300657 Migration and transnational families (S) (WiSe 2021/2022)

Course Description:

Migrants are often separated from their family by national borders and distance and have to apply for family reunion in the country of settlement. Despite the geographic separation, these migrants and their relatives who “stayed behind” continue to maintain a sense of “familyhood” (Bryceson and Vuorela 2002) through transnational care and support practices. Often childcare and aged care for the elderly parents is organised across geographical distances. Simultaneously, providing the household income from afar can be a migration motive. This course deals with the body of research on transnational migration and in particular transnational families. It discusses concepts such as co-presence and transnational social support (Baldassar et al 2007), presenting regional examples from all over the world. It also explores the restrictions and obstacles for transnational family care through migration- and welfare regimes (Brandhorst 2020). Finally, transnational family care of refugees and asylum seekers is discussed.

Requirements for participation, required level

This course will be taught completely in English. Students should be willing to prepare the meetings via zoom by reading the indicated literature and to actively participate in the discussions.

Bibliography

Baldassar, L., Baldock, C. und Wilding, R. 2007. Families caring across borders: migration,
aging and transnational caregiving. London: Palgrave MacMillan.

Brandhorst, R, L. Baldassar und R. Wilding (2020): Introduction. In: Special Issue Brandhorst, R., Baldassar, L. und R. Wilding (eds.) “Transnational family care ‘on hold’? Intergenerational relationships and obligations in the context of border regimes. Journal of Intergenerational Studies. 18:3, 261-280, DOI: 10.1080/15350770.2020.1787035.

Bryceson, D. & Vuorela, U. (Eds.) (2002). The transnational family: new European frontiers
and global networks . New York: Berg.