The global movement of people underpins the creation of States, the drawing up of borders and development of legal frameworks which distinguish people of the nation from those considered simply in it. The politicisation of migration has driven policy and legal framework developments in Europe and internationally at an astonishing rate. This module will ground students in the sociological literature on migration. Introduce them to the racializing narratives at play in migration policy and equip them with an understanding of European policy and the differences between European states and global policy trends. This module considers the theoretical, policy and legislative aspects of international migration within Europe. Taking a comparative approach, migration policy and legislative development at European level and between nation states is examined. The wider theoretical underpinnings of global movement, nation building, and border creation is deconstructed. The lived reality of migration is examined through analysis of the experiences of children of migration, processes of acculturation and transnational families. Students will also contextualize migration legislation and policy in relation to labour market integration and climate change.

The indicative content will be: • European migration - history, context and change. Grounding the development of Europe as an intelligible entity through the history of global population flows. Understanding the European global economy as historically and presently based on colonialism, unequal power relations and capitalism. • Nationalism and the Nation State. Drawing on Goldberg's Racial State, Bauman's Gardening state and Hage's White nationalism to consider how nations construct belonging and justify nationalist legislation and policy. • Assimilation, Multiculturalism and Integration. Historical analysis of public policy measures based on notions of Assimilation, Multiculturalism and Integration, definition of terms, problematic policies and implementation and comparative analysis nationally and internationally. • Asylum, Family Re-unification and Unaccompanied Minors. European history of asylum and family reunification grounded in post war UN mandates. Politicisation of asylum and legislative restriction of family reunification. • Acculturation. The psychological processes of adaptation will be considered and compared to national, European and international policies and procedures mandating the behaviour and perspectives of immigrant groups. • Children of Migration. The literature on 1.5 generation and 2nd generation migrant will be explored drawing on research on education, health and housing outcomes in Ireland, Europe and North America. • Transnational Families. The concepts of migration and national belonging will be troubled by considering transnationalism and globalized families. The literature on globalization, technology change and global labour demands will challenge students to consider if policies at a national and European level are fit for purpose, for a present and future defined by technology. • Migration and the Labour Market. The labour demands of global economies and late stage capitalism will be considered in relation to migration. The legislation and policies governing migration and labour markets will be analysed. Empirical research on labour market integration of migrants across Ireland, Europe and globally will be explored. • Climate Migration. The driving force of climate change and environmental racism will be considered. European policy on global movement, asylum and sanctuary is evaluated in relation to the growing climate change threat.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Explain theoretical conceptualisations of global movement, nationalism and construction of the nation state. Identify key European policy and legislative changes regulating movement. Compare and contrast national public policy to European policy on migration. Analyse European policy in relation to international practices on migration. Evaluate the connection between global movement, labour market demands and climate change pressures. Articulate and synthesise processes of acculturation.

Develop a critical and reflective disposition on comparative European migration.

This module will be taught through a combination of lectures and self-directed learning. Combined, these approaches will enhance understanding of the subject area and foster a proactive stance towards research. Students' sense of responsibility to self and society will be improved through the skills they will be required to develop in this module. Namely, an increased ability to articulate theoretical debates as they apply to everyday practices and an increase their capacity to engage with complex policy and legislative developments at a national, European, and international level.