Political Science 790M - Migration, Borders & the State

This course addresses the historical and contemporary intersection between migration, borders and the state from a critical and interdisciplinary perspective, in the United States and internationally. We will examine the role of law, the role of the state, and various institutional actors in theorizing, developing and implementing immigration policies at various levels of government, including the United Nations, state governments, and courts, as well as non-state actors such as lawyers, nonprofits and immigrant movements. Topics include borders, state control, public opinion, politics of protection (e.g., for refugees, victims of trafficking), legal status, gender, immigrant social movements and the criminalization of migration.