Course co-directors: Oksana Mikheieva (ZOiS / European University Viadrina / Ukrainian Catholic University) and Viktoriya Sereda (Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin / Ukrainian Catholic University)
Migration, Belonging, Policies is an interdisciplinary course that delves deeply into the complex dynamics of migration and displacement, and their profound impact on individuals and receiving communities. This course focuses on the diverse migration experiences of Ukrainians since 2014, the multifaceted notions of belonging and identity that arise from these movements as well as challenges they are experiencing in different countries and migration policy regimes. This course offers three thematic aspects of a general theme. The first part of the course is dedicated to exploring the possibilities and limitations of migration data collection and research, including demographic measurement, assessment, and estimation. Students will be involved in discussing methodological challenges in studying refugees and will understand the nuances and difficulties in collecting and interpreting data in this field. The course also discusses media representations of migrants, highlighting how narratives are shaped and the impact these representations have on public perception and policy.
Further, the course covers the topics of war-time return and leaving intentions, investigating the factors that influence migrants’ decisions during conflicts and crises. Students will explore the processes and challenges of negotiating belonging after migration, examining how individuals and communities rebuild their identities and social connections in new environments. Finally, we will focus on the problems and challenges of migration policies in European countries. Against the background of growing voluntary and forced migration, both migrant-receiving and migrant-donor countries are increasingly forced to seek policy responses to a complex and often unpredictable situation. We will discuss how countries are responding to migration at the level of public policy and the consequences of particular governmental responses to migration.
Through a combination of case studies, theoretical frameworks, and policy analysis, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities arising from migration and forced displacement, gaining insights into their influence on migration policies, societal cohesion, and cultural diversity.