300070 Sociological and political perspectives on migration and the environment (S) (WiSe 2015/2016)

The nexus between the environment, climate change and migration has received growing academic and policy interest in recent years. Yet, not all aspects of this linkage have been adequately addressed in these debates. Based on this consideration, the seminar aims to consider this deficiency and attempts to deconstruct and reconstruct the linkage’s conceptual components in order to provide a fuller picture.
Therefore, the seminar will be divided into three sections: 1) Links between the environment and migration: Mainstream approaches, political agendas and discourses on the effects of the environment on migration will be presented and critically analysed. 2) The deconstruction of the linkage: a) Political perspectives and sociological approaches on the environment An overview of the most important milestones on environmental policies will be provided and the most relevant aspects in the current discussion will be addressed. In addition, some sociological approaches related to the societal aspects of environmental change will be presented. b) Political perspectives and sociological approaches on migration This section will address the policy dimensions of current migration that will also be critically reflected. It will also address important aspects of international and internal migration and discuss transformations over time. 3) Alternative perspectives on the environment and migration: The last part of the seminar will present different approaches on environment and/or migration, which are often discussed separately. These theoretical approaches will be used to construct an alternative perspective on the potential linkage between the environment and migration.

Requirements for participation, required level

Interest in different aspects of the linkage between the environment and migration and willingness to critically reflect policy discourses. It is essential that all students read the indicated literature in preparation of the seminar sessions.