POLT 33500-01
Crossing Borders/Global Migrations
Prof. Chip Gagnon
Spring 2012

Last revised 4/30/2012

I. Introduction: How do we think about immigration and immigrants?

M 1/23 Introductions: Migrations and movements
We'll meet each other and talk a bit about our own experiences with movement and borders.
 

W 1/25 Images of Immigrants and Immigration
Required readings:
- Castles and Miller, Chapter 1, "Introduction"
- "Migration after the crash: Moving out, on and back" pp.3-5
- Family Migration Chart (to be discussed in class), p.2
- BBC Poll Results, p.6
Links of interest:
- Immigration agencies of various countries

II. Global Migration: Historical background

F 1/27 Theories of International Migration
Required reading:
- Castles and Miller, Chapter 2, "Theories of Migration" up to page 33.
- Morawska, "Origin and Process of Immigration to the US", pp.7-13
Essay #1 due F 1/27:
Think about movement in terms of your own life and family. In a short (3-4 page) essay, answer the following questions: Where do you come from? What kinds of migrations have you and/or your family undertaken? Why did the move(s) occur?  What kinds of borders did you cross?  How did the move(s) change or affect you?  Explore the question broadly: consider changes in your sense of dependence, freedom, age, class, desires, habits. Also think about why you did not move at certain times (or perhaps ever).  More generally I'd like you to think about the relationship between where you come from, where you are, and who you are.
 

M 1/30 International Migration: History
Required reading:
- Castles and Miller, Chapter 4, "International Migration before 1945"
 

W 2/1 Immigration into the US: Changes over time
Required reading:
- Piore, from Birds of Passage, "Historical evolution of long-distance migration in US", pp.14-29
To think about:
What has been the driving force behind migration to and within the US from Piore's perspective? If this were a story, who would be the characters and what are their motivations? What changes over time?

F 2/3 US immigrant experience: late 19th century
Required reading:
- Proulx, Accordion Crimes, part 1, pp.30-48 (Also available online)
To think about:
Immigrant experiences then and now.
Suggested viewing:
The Gangs of New York (Miramax, 2003)
 

M 2/6 Immigration: Other experiences
Required reading:
- Emmer, "Immigration into the Caribbean: The Introduction of Chinese and East Indian Indentured Laborers between 1839 and 1917" , pp.49-65
 

III. Global Migration: Theoretical understandings

W 2/8 Migration and migrants
Required reading:
- Castles and Miller, Ch. 10, "Migrants and minorities in the labor force"
Link of interest:
- 2010 US Dept of Homeland Security Yearbook of Immigration Statistics (pdf)
 

F 2/10 Migration and the Global Economy
Required reading:
- Harris, "Introduction: Capitalism and Migration" in CR, pp.66-76
To think about:
What does capitalism have to do with migration? How does economic globalization -- in trade, goods, services, and investments -- drive labor migration?

M 2/13 Migrations and social networks
Required reading:
- Harris, "Social Networks and Migration" in CR, pp.77-89
- Tilly, "Transplanted networks" in CR, pp.90-98
To think about:
What are social networks? How does looking at them help us to understand migration? Think about social networks and movements in your own life or the life of your family.

W 2/15 Migration: The rural to urban factor
Required reading:
- Gilbert and Gugler, "The Urban-Rural Interface and Migration", pp.99-111
Videos of interest:
- Peasants Migrate (1996, China - video is 13:25 but repeats itself...)
- Migrant Workers - ( 2006, China)
- The Long Train Home (trailer) (2008, China; in IC library)
- Interview with migrant construction worker (2007, China, 2008)
- The story of India migrants (2010)
 

F 2/17 Gendered Migration: The case of Mexico and the US
Required reading:
- Sotelo-Hondagneu, "Immigration, Gender and Settlement", pp.112-125
- Sotelo-Hondagneu, "Gendered Immigration", pp.126-136
To think about:
What do we learn about migration and migrants by examining them through the lens of gender?
 

M 2/20 Film: Journey of Hope (Textor 101, 7-9pm) (111 minutes)
Essay #2 on Histories Section, due M 2/20 4pm (20% of grade)
 

W 2/22 Discussion of Journey of Hope (in class)

Migration as social transformation
Required reading:
- Castles, "Understanding Global Migration: A Social Transformation Perspective", pp.137-147
 

F 2/24 Why Most People Don't Migrate
Required reading:
- Malmberg, "Time and Space in International Migration", pp.148-162
To think about:
Why do most people not migrate? Think about the results of the BBC poll, p.6
 

IV. Migration and Migrants

M 2/27 Migration to the Global North
Required reading:
- Castles and Miller, Chapter 4, "Migration to Highly-Developed Countries since 1945"
Article of interest:
"As jobs die Europe's migrants head for home"
Video of interest:
- Migration Flow Management: A new European strategy (2009, 10:35) 
- Integration of Immigrants: A challenge for Europe (2007, 24:23)

W 2/29 Migration within the Developing World
Required reading:
- Castles and Miller, Chapter 7, "Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America"
- Harris, "The Sweated Trades in the Developing World", pp.163-177
- Fattah, "In Dubai, an Outcry From Asians for Workplace Rights," p.178
- Giuffrida, "U.A.E. Construction Workers Stranded, With No Pay and No Prospects" pp.179-183
Video of interest:
- Immigrants in Dubai (ABC news Australia)
- "Gold-paved Gulf cities mere mirage for Indian migrants" (RT, 2012, 3:22)
- "Human rights of migrant workers in Singapore" (2010, 6:47)
- "Hidden faces of the Gulf Miracle" (2011, 10:03)*
- "African Immigrants Turn to Argentina for Opportunity" (2010, 7:00)*
- "Latin American immigrants ill-treated in Argentina" (2011, 2:44)*
 

F 3/2 States and Migration
Required reading:
- Castles and Miller, Chapter 8, "State and Migration Control"
Link of interest:
- Text of International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (UN General Assembly, December 1990)

M 3/5 Migration into Japan
Required readings:
- Cornelius, "Japan: Illusion of Immigration Control", pp.184-202
- French, "Insular Japan Needs, but Resists, Immigration", pp.203-204
- Onishi, "As Its Work Force Ages, Japan Needs and Fears Chinese Labor" pp.205-209
- Yamanaka, "Increasing gaps between immigration policies and outcomes in Japan" pp.210-215
Video of interest:
- China's Human Traffic - Japan (ABC Australia, 2007, 15:48)
- Japan's Ageing Economy (ABC Australia, 2005, 7:14)
Suggested reading:
- Skeldon, "China: An Emerging Destination for Economic Migration"
- Guide to Japanese Visas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
To think about:
The tension between economic growth and the concept of the nation-state.
 

W 3/7 Migration into the US: Mexico
Required readings:
- Massey, "Closed Door Policy", pp.216-218
- Bacon, "How US Policies Fueled Mexico's Great Migration" pp.219-232
Video of interest:
- "Faces of migration: Returning to a foreign home" (Mexico, 7:50)
 

F 3/9 Migration into the US: Economics
Required reading:
- Riley, Introduction,
- Riley, Chapter 2 "Economics: Help Wanted"
- Riley, Conclusion
- "Immigrants, economy heading south" p.233
 

3/12-3/16 Spring Break
 

M 3/19 Migration into Western New York and agriculture
Guest speaker: Mary Jo Dudley, Director, Cornell Farmworker Program
Required reading:
- Bowe, "Shameful Harvest", pp.275-276
- "Dark Harvest: A Season in Apples", pp.277-286
- "Inside Migrant Worker Camps", pp.287-288
- Facts on Farmworkers in the US, p.289
- Facts on Farmworks in New York State, p.290
- "A profile of immigrants in the New York State Economy" pp.291-296
- Macher, "New York's Farmworkers: Toward Local Fair Trade" p.297
- "Migrant farm workers in New York" p.298
Documents
- "Legalization of Undocumented Farmworkers in NYS"
- "Farmworker Impacts on Communities in NYS"
Links of interest:
- Map of all farms that applied for H2A visa in 2010 in NYS
- Farmworkers forum
- Cornell Farmworker Program

W 3/21 Migration into the US: policies
Required readings:
- Tobar, "The Wanderers" pp.234-249
- Lebo "Arizona's Anti-Immigrant Law SB 1070" pp.250-256
- Jordan, "Arizona Squeeze on Immigration Angers Business", pp.257-258
- Preston, "In Alabama, a harsh bill for residents here illegally" pp.259-260
- "Farms can't find pickers" pp.261-262
- "Labor shortages, H-2A reform" pp.263-264
- Bernstein, "Companies use immigration crackdown to turn a profit" pp.265-270
- "Dayton Ohio Welcomes Immigrants as Policy Point" pp.271-274
In class:
- "Alabama immigration law deterring investors" (2:52)
Link of interest:
- "Welcome Dayton Plan: Immigrant Friendly City" (official City of Dayton resolution and plan to attract immigrants)
- "Meet town bankrupted by private prison operators" (video, 3:05)
- "Fear and Loathing in Prime Time" (about cable news coverage of immigration in US)
 

F 3/23 Asylum and Refugees
Required reading:
- Castles and Miller, Reread section "Refugees and Asylum," pp.188-195
- Moorehead, "The homeless and the rightless" pp.299-310
- Drakulic, "High-heeled shoes," pp.311-316
- Kristoff, "Seeking Asylum..." p.317
- "Definition of Refugee" US Citizenship and Immigration Service, pp.318
- "Affirmative Asylum Process at a Glance" US Citizenship and Immigration Service, pp.319-320
Links of interest:
- Refugee issues, from Human Rights First
- Institute of Race Relations, London. Information on asylum and refugees throughout Europe.
Written assignment please note new due date: F 3/23
(ungraded): Compare US asylum and refugee policies to those of one other country of your choice, based on official government information (2-3 pages). (link to some migration agencies)
 

M 3/26 Asylum and refugees: Europe
Required reading:
- Schuster, "Turning refugees into 'illegal migrants': Afghan asylum seekers in Europe" pp.321-328
Links of interest:
- Photo essay on Afghan refugees in France (The Guardian, UK)
- Information on the Eurodac system (European Union official site)
- Information on "Dublin II" (European Union official site)

W 3/28 Film: Lost Baggage (immigrant workers in South Korea, 53 minutes)
Required reading:
- Lim, "Will South Korea Follow the German Experience?" pp.329-342

F 3/30 Discussion of Lost Baggage
With filmmaker Changhee Chun
 

M 4/2 no class

Tu 4/3 Essay #3 on Theories and Migrants Sections due Tu 4/3, 4pm (25% of grade)

Tu 4/3 Evening: screening of film "Precious Knowledge" and discussion with Filmmaker Eren Isabel McGinnes.
7pm, Park Auditorium

 

V. Migration and Multicultural Societies

W 4/4 Racism, immigration, and whiteness: US
Required reading:
- Roediger, "Whiteness and ethnicity in the history of white ethnics in the US", pp.343-352
- Huntington, "The Hispanic Challenge", pp.353-368
- "Three Cheers for Assimilation" (interview with Huntington), p.369
To think about:
How and why did the definition of who was "white" change over time in the US? How could someone who was Irish not be considered to be white?

F 4/6 Immigration / Assimilation
Required reading:
- Riley, Ch.4 "Assimilation: The nativists are restless"

April 6 is the last day to withdraw from the course
 

M 4/9 - W 4/11 National identity, immigration and the US
In class: 9500 Liberty (80 mins)
Required reading:
- Casacchia, "Case Study" pp.370-372
- Gonzales and Sunnucks, "Driving While Hispanic" pp.373-374
 

F 4/13 Critique of liberal multiculturalism
Required reading:
- Hage, "Good White Nationalists", pp.375-388
In class:
- Discussion of research paper. Discussion of possible topics.
 

M 4/16 Immigration and Multiculturalism: South Africa
Required readings:
- Daley, "New South Africa Shuts the Door on its Neighbors" pp.389-391
- "Unfair to see illegals as the job-snatchers" pp.392-394
- Croucher, "South Africa's illegal aliens: constructing national boundaries in a post-apartheid state", pp.396-417
- McGreal, "Thousands seek sanctuary as South Africans turn on refugees" pp.418-420
- "The Perfect Storm: The Realities of Xenophobia in Contemporary South Africa" pp.421-427
In class:
- Discussion of research paper, part 2. Share possible topics.

W 4/18 Migration and multicultural society: France
Showing of film : Hate (La Haïne) (97 minutes)
Textor 103, Wed 4/18, 7pm)

F 4/20 No class
Research paper: Assignment #1 due, F 4/20, 4pm

M 4/23 Migration and multicultural society: France
Discussion of Film: Hate (97 minutes)
Required readings:
- Background: look over the Official guide to the film (at IC library online)
- Essay on significance of Hate (La Haïne) in France, pp.428-435
- Hamilton, "The Challenge of French Diversity", pp.436-445
- Zappi, "French Government Revives Assimilation Policy", pp.446-447
- Bouteldja, "Explosion in Suburbs", pp.448-449
- "France and the Muslim Myth", pp.450-452
- Vlahos, "The Muslims are coming! The Muslims are coming", pp.453-456
- Huston, "Batman's Politically Correct European Vacation"
- Khouri, "Racists totally freak out over Muslim 'Batman of Paris'"
Links of interest:
- First round French Presidential Election (4/22) results
- Front National official website
- Front National page on Immigration
- Interview with Marine Lepen, head of FN (RT, 2011)

W 4/25 Migration and multicultural society: Germany
Required readings:
- Oezcan, "Germany: Immigration in Transition," in CR, pp.457-464
- "'Integration is the Second German Unification'" pp.465-466
- The Great Debate on Turkey and Turks" pp.468-474
- Kulish, "Shift in Europe Seen in Debate on Immigrants" pp.475-478
Link of interest:
- European Stability Initiative, "The Great Debate: Turks, Integration and Islam in Germany"
 

F 4/27 Migration and citizenship: S. Korea and Japan
Required reading:
- Chung, "Workers or Residents? Immigrant incorporation in Korea and Japan" pp.479-500
 

M 4/30 Immigration and citizenship: Europe
Required reading:
- "Swiss voters will assess immigrants" p.501
- "Swiss to decide on secret votes..." pp.502-505
- "Swiss reject new citizenship rule " p.506
- "Dutch set would-be immigrants a 'blue movie' test" p.507
- "Testing the Limits of Tolerance" pp.508-509
- "Immigrants shine on US civics" (handed out in class)
Link of interest:
- Switzerland Immigration Laws
- UK Citizenship sample questions
- US Citizenship sample questions
- More US questions

To think about:
Who should be a citizen and why? Who should have rights? Who should be deprived of rights? Which rights?
Research paper: Assignment 2, Annotated bibliography, due M 4/30, 4pm
 

W 5/2 Diasporas
Required reading:
- Portes, "Global Villagers: The Rise of Transnational Communities" pp.510-515
Suggested reading:
- Brubaker, "The 'diaspora' diaspora" pp.516-525
 

F 5/4 Conclusion
Required reading:
- Garling, "Startup Ducks Immigration Law With 'Googleplex of the Sea'" pp.526-528

Migration research paper due during finals week, F 5/11, 1pm (30 percent of grade)