Refugees and Migrants in a Global Historical Perspective, 7.5 credits

About the course

The course uses historical case studies of migrant refugee crises before and during World War II in Europe (including Sweden's response to Jews trying to flee Germany and German-occupied countries); in South Asia during and after the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan; in the Balkans repeatedly during the twentieth century, and in present-day Europe as a result of the wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

It will examine the "push factors" of migration (such as war, discrimination, ethnic/religious violence), as well as "pull factors" (such as geographical proximity to the receiving country, perceptions of relative safety, a strong economy, generous refugee or welfare policies). It will also look at the routes and conditions of transit of migrants and refugees, issues of reception in transit and destination countries (including violence against refugees and migrants), and the long-term impact of large-scale displacement of populations on the refugees themselves, on their former country and on the receiving country.