SGIA3781: Diasporas and Global Politics

• Any Level 2 SGIA module

• None

• None

• The aim of the module is to familiarise students with the basic terms in transnationalism and diaspora studies and help them explore diaspora politics in receiving and sending states. The module will require students to understand how globalisation has changed the way we understand contemporary politics with regards to governance and sovereignty.
• The module will provide a systematic overview of current debates on contemporary diaspora politics and transnational political participation by unpacking theoretical and empirical perspectives and incorporating topic-specific literatures from international relations, comparative politics, migration studies, and peace and conflict studies.
• The module will introduce students to the relevant methodology for studying and comparing modern diasporas by analysing case studies from the Global North and South. Through the study of diaspora mobilisations and the triadic relationship between diasporas, sending and receiving countries, the module will explore the positive and negative roles that diasporas can play in political processes such as conflict prolongation, peacebuilding, development, ethnic lobbying and democratisation in their countries of origin.

• The module will focus on an array of examples to showcase the leverage of diasporas in certain political processes, or the lack thereof; and explore several case studies to better comprehend the transnational impact of diasporas worldwide. The following are indicative themes that may be covered in the lectures and/or seminars:
• Theorising diasporas
• Diaspora Mobilisation
• Opportunity Structures in Receiving Countries
• Diasporas and Ethnic-Lobbying
• Diaspora Governance
• Politics of Expatriate Voting
• Transnational Authoritarianism
• Diasporas in Peace and Conflict, and Democratisation
• Diasporas and Development
• Diasporas and Humanitarian Response to Disasters and Pandemics
• Diasporas and Radicalisation
• Diaspora Youth and Women's Mobilisation

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Through the module students will gain an understanding of:
• The characteristics of transnationalism and diaspora politics;
• Diaspora mobilisation in both historical and comparative contexts;
• Diaspora engagement policies put forward by receiving and sending states and foreign policy implications of diaspora activism;
• Political, social and economic opportunity structures in receiving and sending states that facilitate and/or constrain immigrant transnational political action;
• The role of diasporas as non-state actors in contemporary politics and as agents of change in their countries of origin.

Subject-specific Skills:

• The students will develop a range of subject-specific skills and they will be able to:
• Critically engage, assess and evaluate the central debates and theoretical approaches in diaspora studies;
• Understand the role of state-linked and non-state actors in transnational politics and develop a critical understanding of the responses of governments international organisations, NGOs and local host communities towards diaspora activism;
• Gain the theoretical and empirical tools to analyse the key developments and political processes pertinent to contemporary diaspora politics;
• Identify and effectively utilise advanced academic literature in the field.

Key Skills:

• Students will also develop some important key skills, suitable for underpinning study at this and subsequent levels such as:
• Critical thinking.
• Independent learning within a defined framework of study at an advanced level;
• The ability to identify appropriate resources and critically engage with them;
• Independent thought in analysing and critiquing existing scholarship and policy documents on the subject area and in evaluating its contribution;
• The ability to seek out and use relevant data sources, including electronic and bibliographic sources, as well as policy reports;
• Advanced essay-writing skills and the ability to work to a deadline;
• Effectively engage in a structured debate in seminars;
• Effective oral and written communication of research and policy applications;
• Demonstrate self-direction and responsibility in producing a group summative assignment (group presentation).

• Teaching and learning are through a series of 1-hour lectures and an associated series of 1 hour seminars. Lectures provide the delivery of subject-specific knowledge by covering the key theoretical and empirical topics that will be addressed in greater detail in the seminars and the module assignments. Seminars build on the lectures but focus more on encouraging independent learning and a critical engagement with the literature through discussions and class presentations (individual and group).
• Formative assessment in the form of 1500 word essay will allow students practice in developing their skills in formulating a coherent and logically consistent written argument ahead of the summative assessments.
• There are three summative assignments. The first is a review essay of 1500 words, which will be submitted in the first term. Students are expected to present a critical review pertaining to a select topic covered the module. Students will be provided with a list of topics to choose from. This review essay enables the student to develop critical thinking while enhancing their understanding of the existing debates within the relevant scholarship. The second the summative assessment will comprise of a 2000 word essay. Essay questions will be provided in advance and will require students to apply a theoretical framework to a case study. The summative essay will require students to identify appropriate resources, critically engage with them, prepare, and write an analytical assessment which demonstrates their ability to communicate precisely and concisely on a suitable topic. It will enable them to demonstrate their subject knowledge and scholarly writing skills. Third, students will be asked to prepare a group presentation at the end of the term. The presentation will assess their ability to communicate research and policy applications effectively.

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