GV554-7-SP-CO:
Migration, Politics and International Development
2025/26
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
08 August 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
International migration is at the forefront of academic and policy discussions. This module introduces students to the multiple dimensions of human development linked to international migration.
We will discuss the determinants and dynamics of international migration and its economic and social effects on both sending and receiving countries. It introduces students to key policies and governance schemes designed to reap the developmental benefits of international migration with the aim of reducing poverty and inequality. It concludes by examining salient narratives of international migration, how they are linked to the rise of anti-immigrant attitudes, social inequality and exclusion.
The aims of this module are:
- To give an introduction to theories on migration (i.e. migration decisions and dynamics)
- To give an overview of migration and development linkages in both origin and destination countries.
- To give an understanding of the politics and policies associated with migration
By the end of this module students will be expected to be able to:
- Have adetailed understanding of the key concepts, definitions and measures of migration and development
- Have a critical awareness of migration politics and policies
- Have the ability to critically evaluate development policies and programmes associated with migration.
Indicative Syllabus:
- Week 16: Introduction to international migration and development
- Week 17: Theories of international migration
- Week 18: Emigration and development I
- Week 19: Emigration and development II
- Week 20: Development interventions and foreign aid
- Week 21: Immigration and development
- Week 22: Immigration policies
- Week 23: Anti-immigrant attitudes and inequality
- Week 24: Forced migration and international development
- Week 25: Conclusion
This module will be delivered via:
- weekly two-hour interactive seminar session.
- Each session will consist of a series of short presentations by the lecturer, followed by class discussions or group exercises related to the assigned readings.
Students are expected to do the readings before class and be prepared to engage in discussion.
-
United Nations (no date) 'Human Development Report 2009',
Human Development Reports. Available at:
https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-2009.
-
King, R. (2012) 'Theories and Typologies of Migration: An Overview and a Primer',
Willy Brandt Series of Working Papers in International Migration and Ethnic Relations [Preprint]. Edited by E. Righard. Available at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20180421235721/https://www.mah.se/upload/Forskningscentrum/MIM/WB/WB%203.12.pdf.
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de Haas, H. (2010) 'The Internal Dynamics of Migration Processes: A Theoretical Inquiry',
Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 36(10), pp. 1587–1617. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2010.489361.
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Levitt, P. (1998) 'Social Remittances: Migration Driven Local-Level Forms of Cultural Diffusion',
International Migration Review, 32(4), pp. 926–948. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2547666.
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Catalina, A.-D., Cynthia, B. and Susan, P. (2024) 'On the Remitting Patterns of Immigrants: Evidence from Mexican Survey Data'. Available at:
https://www.atlantafed.org/-/media/documents/news/conferences/2004/payments04/AmuedoDorantes.pdf.
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Clemens, M.A. and Postel, H.M. (2018) 'Deterring Emigration with Foreign Aid: An Overview of Evidence from Low-Income Countries'. Washington, US: Center For Global Development. Available at:
https://www.cgdev.org/publication/deterring-emigration-foreign-aid-overview-evidence-low-income-countries.
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Tuuli, R. and Shilhav, R. (no date) 'The EU Trust Fund for Africa: Trapped Between Aid Policy and Migration Politics'. Oxford, UK: Oxfam International. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.21201/2020.5532.
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Freeman, G.P. (no date) 'Modes of Immigration Politics in Liberal Democratic States',
International Migration Review, 29(4), pp. 881–902. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2547729.
-
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Czaika, M. and De Haas, H. (no date) 'The Effectiveness of Immigration Policies',
Population and Development Review, 39(3), pp. 487–508. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2013.00613.x.
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Aliverti, A. (no date) 'Patrolling the “Thin Blue Line” in a World in Motion: An Exploration of the Crime–Migration Nexus in UK Policing',
Theoretical Criminology, 24(1), pp. 8–27. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480619841905.
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Ellermann, A. (2006) 'Street-Level Democracy: How Immigration Bureaucrats Manage Public Opposition',
West European Politics, 29(2), pp. 293–309. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/01402380500512627.
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Hainmueller, J. and Hopkins, D.J. (no date) 'Public Attitudes Toward Immigration',
Annual Review of Political Science, 17(1), pp. 225–249. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-102512-194818.
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de Haas, H., Castles, S. and Miller, M.J. (2020b) 'Migration, Ethnicity and Identity', in
Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World. 6th edn. London, UK: Red Globe Press, pp. 75–92. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/610491.
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de Haas, H., Castles, S. and Miller, M.J. (2020a) 'Migrants and Minorities in the Labour Force', in
Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World. 6th edn. London, UK: Red Globe Press, pp. 275–296. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/610491.
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Jacobsen, K. (2014) 'Livelihoods and Forced Migration', in E. Fiddian-Qasmiyeh et al. (eds)
The Oxford Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, pp. 99–111. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199652433.013.0018.
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Betts, A. and Collier, P. (no date) 'Help Refugees Help Themselves: Let Displaced Syrians Join the Labor Market',
Foreign Affairs, 94(6), pp. 84–92. Available at:
https://search-ebscohost-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bsu&AN=110452748&site=ehost-live&authtype=sso&custid=s9814295.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Miranda Simon, email: miranda.simon@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Miranda Simon
Please contact govpgquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Kyriaki Nanou
Durham University
Associate Professor in European politics
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Government
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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