CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Examines ideas and practices that affect experiences of forced migration and responses to these situations. What does it mean to live as a refugee? And what needs to change to alleviate the hardships and suffering of so many displaced people? Students who have taken IS 329 with this topic may not take this course for further credit.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course examines the ideas and practices that affect experiences of forced migration and responses to these situations. Course topics include the legal context surrounding forced migration and the protection and control of refugees and internally displaced persons, the root causes of forced migration and internal displacement, gender and human rights, representations/narratives/debates surrounding refugees and displaced persons, refugee camps, immigration and asylum, durable solutions, and policy approaches. Students will also critically examine the different actors involved in the protection and management of refugees and displaced persons, and the impacts of their interventions. The course will discuss various contemporary case studies, mainly from Asia and Africa. The course draws upon diverse disciplines, including development studies, political science, anthropology, and history.
Classes are composed of lectures and seminar-style discussions, group work, and presentations. Students are expected to have read assigned readings before the start of each class, and to engage with the readings during group discussions. Group discussions and group work will draw out the relevance and implications of issues raised in lectures and readings.
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Attendance and Participation
10%
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Presentation
25%
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Book Review
30%
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Final Research Paper
35%
NOTES:
Students will have an opportunity to sign up for their presentation topics and dates on the first day of class, on September 7, 2018. They will select from topics in class weeks 2-5, and 8-10 for their presentation. Students will present in the week that they have selected. For presentations, students will engage with the readings in the chosen seminar week (as well as at least one external reading), and present their ideas, critical analysis, and discussion questions during class for 15 minutes. They will also help to facilitate class discussions and group exercises.
Students will carry out a book review of City of Thorns by Ben Rawlence in 1500 words (due October 19). For this assignment, students will choose one topic from the following list, and analyse how the book contributes to understandings of the topic:
-life in a refugee camp
-successes and failures of the refugee system
-root causes of protracted refugee situations and/or internal displacement
For the final research paper, students will choose their own topic, with a clear research question and arguments. Their topic can draw from readings and themes covered in class, however, they cannot choose the same topic that they presented on. They must also draw upon some external readings. Students must obtain approval for their topic from the Instructor by the start of class 11. Final research papers are due on December 7, 2018.
Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.
The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at:
http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.
REQUIRED READING:
There are two core texts for this course:
i) E. Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, G. Loescher, K. Long, & N. Sigona (Eds.), 2014, The Oxford University Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, Oxford University Press (available online).
ii) Rawlence, B., 2016, City of Thorns: Nine Lives in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp, Picador.
In addition, readings are assigned from other books and articles, which will be available at the SFU libraries (on reserve and online), and on Canvas.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS