module specification

The aim of this module is to investigate the complex relationship between migration, crime, borders and the criminal justice system. In this module, you will discuss the management of migration, focusing on the control of borders and the processing of migrants.  You will examine the relationships between migration, borders and crime, looking at a range of topics such as forced migration, migrant smuggling, policing migration and borders, imprisoning foreign nationals, immigration detention, deportation and human rights, drawing on theoretical work and empirical research in a range of disciplines.

The module aims to:

• Critically examine the complex relationship between migration, borders and crime
• Understand and explain key concepts such as national sovereignty, citizenship, globalisation and migration
• Understand some of the theories emerging from recent research on migration, borders and crime.
• Explore diverse forms of border policing and crime control.
• Assess the differential impacts of migration control on particular groups (e.g. gender/nationality/race/ethnicity, class)

Available to study abroad? YES

The syllabus will include coverage of topics such as those listed below.

• The history and political economy of migration: this session explores the historical, political and economic contexts of migration flows (LO1,2,3,4).
• Nationalism, Citizenship and Belonging: this session covers the concepts and key debates on nationalism, citizenships and belonging (LO1,2).
• Governing human migration: This session examines the management of migration, focusing on the control of borders and the processing of migrants, looking in particular at how some migrants are processed through methods analogous to the criminal justice system (LO1,3,4).
• Theorising Mobility:  The session explores key theoretical explanations of mobility (LO2).
• Forced migration, detention and human rights: This session provides empirical insights into the social impact of the cultural rhetoric, language politics, law and resulting practices situated in different, yet interlinked, sites of power (e.g., UK immigration courts; detention centres; origin country’s anti-trafficking initiatives) – and how these affect refugee experiences.
• Border policing, border control and private security: The session explores globalisation of crime control systems based on risk, reflexivity and governmentality, and international trends towards managerialism and penal expansion.
• Gender and Migration: This session explores the vast array of different reasons for women and men moving within and outside their native countries, whether it be for employment, upon marriage, or in the midst of conflict. It will also explore the impact of immigration/migration policies in particular female migrants in both source and destination countries (LO1,2,3,4).
• Migration and the Media: This session explores the representation of migrants and refugees across national press cultures and across time. It explores the role media plays in framing the narratives about migration, in particular the importance of discussion relating to ‘limiting’ or ‘controlling’ migration (LO1,3).
• The Future of Migration: A world without borders?: This session focuses on the future of migration (LO1,2,3).
• Assessment: assists students with expressing and defending, orally and in writing, evidence-based arguments on victimisation (including Harvard referencing) (LO1,2,3,4).

Each week, this module will be delivered through a one-hour lecture, and a one hour seminar or workshop. The reading and workshops will be supported by weblearn and you will be encouraged to engage in debate, presentations and web materials as well as attending lectures and seminars.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Understand the complex relationship between migration, borders and crime.
2. Understand some of the theories emerging from recent research on migration, borders and crime.
3. Critically analyse the diverse forms of border policing and crime control.
4. Understand the impact of migration control on particular groups (e.g. gender, nationality/race/ethnicity, class).

There will be a 3000 word essay. This assessment will assess all of the learning outcomes 1 - 4 by requiring significant reading to demonstrate an understanding of the issues addressed in the module and also to be able to offer a critical appraisal of these issues.

Key reading:

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/2065FD39-2D92-C19D-A28A-0BE70A8B8932.html?lang=en&login=1