Course co-directors: Oleksiy Chebotarov, University of Oslo, and Vladyslava Moskalets, Lviv Center for Urban History / Ukrainian Catholic University
This course explores the diverse and complex migration and mobility processes in modern East-Central Europe, focusing on the region’s rich cultural, ethnic, and social diversity. Bridging long 19th and short 20th centuries, the course examines the factors that have driven various forms of migration, including mass emigration, labour migration, forced resettlements, refugee crises, and the mobility of nomadic and minority communities. Key to understanding these movements is recognizing how political, economic, and social dynamics intersect with issues of race, gender, ethnicity, and class, shaping the experiences of migrants, refugees, and displaced persons.
Throughout the course, students will explore how migration is shaping multi-ethnic societies and fostering transnational connections. Topics will include the forced and voluntary movements of various groups, the intersection of state policies and non-governmental organizations in migration governance, the experiences of refugees and displaced persons across the region, and the migration patterns of marginalized communities. Special attention will be given to the role of Ukrainian lands as a migration nexus, both historically and in contemporary contexts. By analyzing these varied experiences, students will gain critical insights into the multifaceted nature of migration and its profound influence on identity, community, and belonging. The course encourages a deeper understanding of how diversity, in all its forms, has shaped and continues to shape East-Central Europe.