300204 Comparative Studies of Contemporary Topics in Western European Socities: Citizenship, Migration and Immigrant Communities (S) (SoSe 2008)

Contemporary European studies have been challenged by a number of topics and questions related to the relationship of European countries and the many colors of their population generated through decade long migration flows. Immigration is one of the most controversial political issues in Europe, posing a challenge to received ideas about citizenship and national identity across the continent. This course considers current debates about citizenship and immigration in a comparative and multidimensional perspective, and aims to provide students with an understanding of how Western Europe and its countries have responded to immigration and how their different understandings of citizenship have conditioned these responses. The effect of globalization in this process will also be covered in order to delineate the battlefield of the debate, which is a contested phenomenon itself. By the end of the course it is aimed that students will have developed an understanding of the conceptual issues associated with globalization, citizenship and immigration. Moreover it is aimed that the participants will have acquired a sound and comparative knowledge of the historical background to contemporary debates.
Aims of the course
· To develop a sound knowledge of and ability to analyze the political processes and policies associated with globalization in terms of citizenship and immigration.
· To consider conceptual issues surrounding citizenship and immigration.
· To assess normative arguments about multiculturalism, transnationalism, national citizenship etc.
· To utilize the theoretical part of the course in case studies on selected countries in part II

• In addition, objectives for each week are specified in the reading lists.

Course Outline
1. Introduction to the Course
2. An introduction into Comparative Studies of Societies, Globalization and Effects
3. Theories of Citizenship: Contemporary Problems of Citizenship Theory
4. Modes of Citizenship Practices
5. The Question of Belonging: Multiculturalism and Transnationalism
6. Discussion and Presentation Week
7. Debate on European Identity: Opportunities, Implications and EU citizenship
8. Migration to Europe Since 1945: Patterns and Processes
9. Politics of Citizenship and Migration Politics in the EU
10. Discussion and Presentation Week
11. The Return of Assimilation? Integration in Contemporary Western Europe (1):Germany
12. The Return of Assimilation? Integration in Contemporary Western Europe (2):France
13. The Return of Assimilation? Integration in Contemporary Western Europe (3): Netherlands
14. The Muslim Other in Western European Societies: Integration, Exclusion and Extremism
15. Discussion and Presentation Week

After a short introductory session, the course will start with a prelude to comparative studies of societies and then the theories of citizenship. Generally the course unfolds across accumulative bi-part structure which consists of a conceptual (/theoretical) part from 2nd week to 10th week. The course is designed to be cumulative so that, for example, the knowledge and understanding of theories of citizenship gained in seminar 3 will help in the analysis of citizenship practices in seminar 4, while the materials covered in week 5 will provide essential context for the discussion of politics and policies in week 7, and so on throughout the course. You are therefore encouraged to approach the course in an integrated fashion, drawing on materials from previous weeks as and when is necessary. Furthermore in the three discussion sessions the student are encouraged (and optionally required) to make short presentations alone or in groups of what has been covered previous weeks or in related topics of choice.