Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM161: Forced Migration in International Relations

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

1)    To introduce you to the literature and the key historical, socioeconomic, legal and political issues in forced migration, including the rules, norms and institutions of the international refugee regime, the wider global governance of forced migration and the international cooperation problems that affect these.

2) To apply theories of International Relations (IR) in order to critically analyse the root causes and consequences of forced migration as well as policy responses to it.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate a contextualised and critical understanding of the key historical, socioeconomic, legal and political issues in forced migration;
2. Apply IR theories to the analysis of the root causes, consequences and policy responses to forced migration, including its global governance in general and the international refugee regime in particular;
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Find, use and analyse secondary and primary data relevant to specific issues in politics and IR;
4. Place contemporary political issues in larger contexts;
5. Deploy critical arguments in analysing political issues and evaluating sources;
Personal and Key Skills6. Work independently and in a group, including the presentation of material for group discussion;
7. Demonstrate analytical skills and the ability to digest, select and organise material;
8. Demonstrate writing skills including the ability to produce well organised and coherent essays to a deadline, practice in articulating and defending positions on tutorial topics.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • The international refugee regime: emergence and evolution
  • International refugee law and refugee status determination
  • Forced migration and International Relations
  • The international refugee regime: UNHCR, international cooperation problems and the politics of humanitarianism
  • The EU dimension: the Common European Asylum System
  • Durable solutions: repatriation, resettlement and local integration
  • Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
  • Environmental displacement
  • Gender and forced migration
  • Peacebuilding, state-building, transitional justice and reparations
  • Biopolitics and refugees

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
222780

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching activity2211 x 2-hour seminars
Guided independent study78Reading for seminars
Guided independent study200Completion of coursework

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).