300315 "Immigration: The individual, social structures and social policy" (S) (WiSe 2017/2018)

Immigration, a growing phenomenon worldwide, is transforming demographic, social, and cultural maps globally and here in Israel. The course examines anthropological and social aspects of immigration, refugeeism, and aliyah in Israel and the world, as well as issues of policy. We will become acquainted with theories that explain immigration and examine types of immigration, and social trends of the phenomenon in the global era. We will try to understand the cultural meanings of immigration. We will examine immigration as a journey and the meanings of maintaining contact with one’s country of origin, of splitting families, and of the periods of waiting endured by such groups of olim to Israel such as member of Zera Beita Israel and olim from the CIS. We will also examine the ways welfare policies are expressed toward olim from Caucasia and France. Looking at the global scene, we will analyze the concept of welfare in different cultures, and the dialogue between welfare policies and immigrants and refugees in such European countries as Sweden, France, and Germany. We will discuss issues of multiculturalism, racism, and labeling.