Unit information: Migration Policy in the UK and European Union in 2012/13

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Unit name Migration Policy in the UK and European Union
Unit code SPOL30030
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director . Ann Singleton
Open unit status Open
Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

School/department School for Policy Studies
Faculty Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit wil cover the history and current development of UK migration policies, in the context of European Union integration and policy development. It will explore conceptual and methodological problems in understanding and analysing international migration. The focus will be on local, national and European migration patterns and trends. Core themes will be labour migration, the feminisation of migration flows, asylum seeking, the securitisation of migration debates, human trafficking and the social construction of migration as crime.

The objectives of this unit are to:

  • Provide an introduction to the institutions and processes involved in European Union justice and home affairs policy making.
  • Examine the development of UK and EU migration and asylum policies.
  • Identify historical and current patterns and trends in migration and asylum seeking.
  • Explore key issues in the migration policy domain, including poverty, social exclusion, citizenship, labour migration, human trafficking and asylum seeking.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, students should be able to demonstrate:

  • Understand migration policy processes within the UK and the European Union
  • Develop the tools to be able to critically analyse migration policies in the UK and the EU.
  • Be familiar with theoretical and empirical literature on migration and asylum policy
  • Have developed a sharp awareness of contemporary debates in the migration policy field, in particular those relating to citizenship, asylum, human rights and integration policies.

Teaching Information

Lectures and classes.

Assessment Information

Assessment will be against the programme criteria defined for the appropriate level.

Formative assessment: One 2000-2500 word essay

Summative assessment: Level H – 3 hour unseen exam

Reading and References

Kraler,Albert, Jandl, Michael and Hofmann, M. (2006) ‘The evolution of EU migration policy and implications for data collection’ in M. Poulain, N. Perrin and A. Singleton (eds) Towards Harmonised European Statistics on International Migration, Louvain-la-Neuve, Presses universitaires de Louvain.

Castles S & Miller M (2003) The Age of Migration 3rd edition Basingstoke; Palgrave Macmillan.

Salt, John (2006) Current Trends in International Migration in Europe, Consultant’s report to the Council of Europe

Warnes, A.M. (2002) ‘The challenge of intra-Union and in-migration to “social Europe”’, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 28 (1), pp. 135-52. den Boer, M. and Wallace, W. (2000) ‘Justice & Home Affairs’, in H. Wallace, and W. Wallace, W. (eds) Policy Making in the European Union, 4th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bomberg, E. and Stubb, A. (2003) The European Union: How does it work? Oxford: OUP

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