Seminar Law and Borders:
The construction and function of borders for international migration
Migration is among the most salient policy problems of our time, both in Europe and beyond. The construction and function of borders lie at the heart of this problem. Our seminar introduces participants to the field of border studies and its relevance for migration policy. It places particular emphasis on legal perspectives, as in today’s world, law and borders are inextricably linked: Almost all law is territorial, and hence defined by the borders it implicitly presupposes. Conversely, almost all borders are constituted not only by geography or culture, but also law.
More specifically, the course offers an overview of contemporary border issues in Europe which come into tensions with legal aspects of migration. It introduces the relevant regulations and explores the multidimensional issues experienced by individuals along borders and how they are affected by the law or conversely impact the law. Examples will range from every day latent conflicts on the European continent to tensions along European borders in Africa, South America, etc. While the primary focus will be the nexus between borders and migration, examples will be put into dialogue with the broader border studies scholarship to help students engage with the variety of border processes and theories. The aim of the course is to get the students familiar with the legal aspects pertaining to borders and migration in Europe, and make them every day critic of the various narratives surrounding them. An emphasis will be placed on the various visual data available to study borders and migration. One session of the course will be devoted to critical map making and map reading. This session will feature a lecture by guest Pr. Dr. Henk van Houtum, leading scholar in radical cartography, followed by an activity with students based on a dozen of conventional and unconventional maps, in order to infuse in them the desire to engage more with these topics beyond the course.
The seminar will be co-taught by Mélanie Sadozai, a political scientist and specialist, i. a., in border studies, and Alex Graser, a lawyer with expertise in migration law. It is open to up to 25 students from all related fields. Assignments and the amount of ECTS conferred may vary depending on the requirements of the individual participant’s module and should be agreed upon with the instructors. The expectation will typically be a written seminar paper and an oral input in class.
As the course language is English, a solid passive knowledge of English is indispensable. Written assignments may be completed also in German or French. Students are expected to participate actively in the course. Accommodation may occasionally be made for students who prefer to contribute in other languages than English.
There will be a preparatory session (the info about the date will follow), at which we will present the overall plan, answer individual questions, and, if desired, agree on topics for individual papers. There will be another one or two introductory session(s) at the beginning of the summer semester. The rest of the course will be offered as a block seminar, most like on Fridays / Saturdays in late June / early July. (The session with Henk van Houtum is scheduled for June 27th).
If interested, please sign into the course page on GRIPS for all further information and communication, including course materials.
