Framings and Discourses on Mobility and Crisis – Blessing or Curse? – 2020
Short Course 2020
Framings and Discourses on Mobility and Crisis: Blessing or Curse?
A Virtual Learning Experience – Migration Short Course 2020
Introduction
For the third consecutive year, CEPA plans to conduct the Short Course on Migration. Whilst the past two years the course was held over 4-5 days at the CEPA premises, this year CEPA plans to conduct the course online. It will give participants and resource persons the opportunity to join remotely, opening to a wider audience and newer resource people from across the globe. The decision to conduct the course online is due to the ongoing situation, which may pose restrictions for those travelling from overseas, but also may have limitations on how a public gathering can take place.
Every year CEPA has taken on board feedback from participants and enhanced and the curriculum and method of teaching. Whilst capturing the intricacies of migration, including how different types of migration is interconnected with conflict, natural disasters and (under)development, this year the course will also delve further into the concept of climate change and how it is affecting livelihoods and the decision to migrate. The course will also expand the aspects of labour migration and give it a more prominent place in the agenda.
This year prominence will be given to how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the migration regime, mobility, regulation, and the discourse. The course will explore internal and external mobility dynamics introduced and exacerbated by COVID-19 and bring examples from a range of national, regional and global experiences. Taking into consideration feedback from participants, this year the course will have dedicated days to focus on each key concept of migration. It will run over 4 weeks (See below for course structure). The course will adopt interesting learning methods to keep students engaged even in a virtual learning environment.
Learning Objectives
Explain historical and contemporary causes (push and pull; keep and repel factors), processes and discourses on migration, conflict and development (e.g. transnational modalities).
Describe how global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic can shape internal and international migration regimes.
Identify climate-induced migration and how it is discussed within the current migration discourse.
Identify South Asia’s history and experience of labour migration, the policies that govern labour migration and the issues caused specially in relation to trafficking.
Demonstrate analytical skills to assess recent migration related policy developments at global, regional and national levels (using Gender Analysis and Media Analysis).
Differentiate the issues, recent dynamics and experiences of migrants by situating them in the national, regional and global contexts. (Eg. Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Diaspora, Economic Migrants etc.)
Examine contemporary international policy regimes governing migration and refugees, and what ulterior agendas these relate to, for instance in connection to development cooperation, and to other kinds of global mobilities.
Course Details
Target Group: Mid-career professionals working in the state sector, staff of International Organisations, staff of diplomatic missions, Civil Society Organisations, and graduate and post-graduate students with an interest in the topic.
Course Structure
Online Taught Sessions – Conducted on Wednesdays and Thursdays over 4 weeks – 10 taught sessions in total. Each two-hour session will cover a different topic and will be delivered by academics/experts in that area of study. CEPA will provide facilities at the premises in Colombo for anyone who needs space/equipment to access the course online (if government health regulations permit).
Practitioner Panels – Two panels will be organised comprising of practitioners in the field to talk about pressing issues relating to migration and particularly the topics covered in the taught sessions. The panels will be held online on a weekday evening (in the course period).
Virtual Field Visits – Participants will get the opportunity to virtually visit ministries/agencies/organisations that work in the field to understand the processes and policies that guide their work. More details will follow once confirmed.
Language of Instruction: English
Assessment Method: Active Participation in at least 14 hours of taught sessions (out of 16 hours); participation in (non-graded) quizzes; participation in panels, group activities and virtual field visits.
Dates: 4th November to 3rd December 2020
Times: 2-hour taught sessions – Wednesday and Thursday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm; Panel Discussion 5.00pm – 6.30pm (see schedules for dates)
Duration: 23 hours (8 x 2-hour online taught sessions; 2 x 1.5-hour panel discussions; 2-hour x virtual field visit; 2-hour x interactive participant-led session)
Course Faculty:
(in alphabetical order)
Name; University/Affiliation; Areas of Expertise
Prof. Binod Khadria
Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
International Migration; Diaspora Studies
Prof. Georg Frerks
Utrecht University
Conflict Prevention; Conflict Management
Dr. Idil Akinci
University of Edinburgh
Issues Of National Identity; Citizenship And Belonging In Multicultural Societies
Dr. Lothar Smith
Radboud University Migration-Development; Transnational Flows; Migration and Climate Change; Transnational Identities; Careers For Migrants; Internal Migrants And Urban Identities In Africa
Dr. Nadeera Rajapakshe
Sorbonne University
The representation of migrants in economic theories.
Dr. Piyasiri Wickramasekara
Global Migration Policy Associates
Asian Labour Migration; Governance Of Migration; Migration And Development; Circular Migration; Rights Of Migrant Workers; Irregular Migration; and Migration Statistics
Dr. Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits
International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University
Politics Of War And Peace, State building, Trauma And Psychosocial Healing In Post War Contexts, War Economy, Processes Of Post-War Transitions, Security Sector Reform, Civil-Military Relations, External Interventions In Fragile And Conflict Areas, Visual Peace Research, Nexus Of Media And Violent Conflict.
Prof. Thea Hilhorst
International Institute of Social Studies
Disaster governance in high-conflict, low-conflict and post-conflict societies; (Climate induced migration)
Theoretical Background and Rationale
Throughout history, migration has been intimately related to economic and social development as well as disasters, crisis and conflict; it is often seen as the result of imbalances in development, but also as influencing national development, and global and regional trajectories. Migration is a dynamic and multidimensional reality configured both historically and contemporaneously, which continues to rapidly unfold at present. Human mobility has been rising in the background of rapid globalisation; according to the United Nations, currently there are approximately 250 million people living outside of their country of birth. In addition to the popular South-North flows of migration of the past, we are now witnessing an increase in the South-South migration flows; South-South migration flows are nearly as large as South-North flows. Beyond international migration, it is also important to take cognisance of internal migration, a phenomenon prevalent in many countries. Global estimates indicate that more than 740 million people have moved within their country of birth, but this is a guesstimate that is expected to be on the conservative side.
People migrate for various reasons, from searching for a better life-to avoiding political persecution and repression, diseases and as a partial response to climate change. This multiplicity of reasons makes migration a complex and a multidimensional process, which continues to shape the trajectories of (human) development. Moreover, there is a more regulated form of temporary and circular migration where migrants reside temporarily abroad and return home after completing a term of labour. This form of migration, also known as labour migration, is of the essence for the sending country in view of the significant remittances these migrants send home.
Historically, both natural and man-made crises have ramifications on human mobility which generated a discourse on migration regimes across the globe. As such, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has created a bidirectional impact on migration, and migration takes the centre of COVID-19 infection management. The COVID 19 situation has changed national, regional and global mobility patterns as governments have imposed travel restrictions both internally as well as internationally. Both visible and invisible borders have been reinforced; re-introduced and re-imposed by states and authorities constraining mobilities across and within borders. Internal mobility is constrained and challenged by imposition of lockdown and curfew within national boundaries. Moreover, COVID-19 further legitimised state-imposed securitisation, social stigmatisation and exclusion of certain migratory populations. These policies combined with already prevalent securitisation measures create complex outcomes on moving people and in the process of migration. In addition, the mobility challenge introduced by COVID-19 interestingly shifted global order regarding ‘mobility’. This situation pushed to introduce restrictions on highly mobile, developed nations too. Further, many remittance-dependent countries fear decline in remittance flows, anticipate job losses, decline in household incomes and collapse of the macro economy. Meanwhile, regulatory measures of many labour sending countries are ill prepared to attend to the needs of vulnerable, stranded migrant workers and their repatriation. Moreover, certain vulnerable groups such as refugees, irregular migrants and low-skilled workers are extremely susceptible to COVID-19 infection due to restrictions on accessing healthcare services, being in crowded spaces, and limited space for social distancing and affordability to recommended hygienic practices. These uncertain conditions forced many countries and agencies to temporarily suspend refugee resettlement programmes. Furthermore, internal migrants, especially in urban centers living in precarious conditions have been at high risk of contamination.
Conflicts have historically played an important role in migration trends, and changes in the nature of conflicts since the end of the cold war have strongly affected the nature of displacement in the developing world and beyond. Due to the emergence of new forms of conflict in many parts of the world, countries have been confronted with the challenge of managing displaced persons, migrants and refugees associated with these violent conflicts. Forced migration and refugees are subject to the protection regime codified under international law, but this is challenged and under strain by the sheer numbers and xenophobic reaction, notably in the Global North. Although refugee issue has become a key policy and academic debate in Global North, largest proportion of refugees in the world are hosted by the developing countries. South-South refugee flows need attention as protection and support in host countries, as in any other case, would be critical. Another aspect affecting the trends of global conflict is the diaspora – communities of migrants settled outside the country of origin. These diasporic communities may contribute to not only prevent or resolve conflict but can also sustain or even heighten ongoing conflict.
The effect of migration goes beyond simple economic returns, but also affects identities, cultures, demographic composition, geographies and histories. Amidst the success stories, we are increasingly hearing the stories of migrants trying to reach more prosperous countries in vain or who lost their lives on the way. Recent studies claim that at least eight migrants have died every day in the last 15 years whilst trying to get to Europe or to the United States. Migration can be approached from different angles; voices that are more progressive argue that migration enriches the recipient society while others point to the need for labour supply in ageing societies. However, conservative and mainstream European media seldom celebrate the positive aspects, rather the alleged negative effects are emphasised. Consequently, contemporary migration brings a multiplicity of perceived challenges to the western nations in relation to societal integration and political legitimacy. Migration has been increasingly presented as a force that endangers the public order, cultural or national identity, labour market stability and has been securitised. As a result, the policy discourse on migration has become a political issue around curbing in-migration from least developed nations. This is exacerbated by the fear that especially migrants from Islamic countries could be jihadist terrorists. In Europe and the US, this securitisation of migration has led to strongly increased surveillance and intrusive border controls.
Given the above developments, we are seeing, for the first time at a high policy level, migration is being accorded an important position. This, for instance is reflected in the United Nations’ main Development Agenda- the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs). These SDGs recognise the integral role and the immense contribution that migration (if well managed) can have on sustainable development. The SDGs are now paving the way for policy planning and implementation across borders and across sectors, recognising the inter-linkages between migration and development and the fundamental contributions of migrants. The pandemic may slow down the achievement of SDGs because of its multifaceted effects on various SDGs that are linked to migration as well as the SDG on poverty reduction. Migration is also a priority in other global (i.e. Global Compact on Migration) and regional organisations, and their development policy agendas are informed by different realities, experiences and competing understandings, assumptions and ideologies. Due to the complex nature of migration and the broad field of work it covers, currently the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as the leading organisation for migration, has undertaken the responsibility of building a comprehensive, concise and practical approach to migration governance. Despite these high-level developments, scholars are finding ‘containing’ effects on people’s physical movement and securitisation, militarisation of borders, a global
surge in xenophobia and parochial forms of nationalist politics. As a result, the movement of capital is happening more freely and faster than the physical movement of people, both accentuated and facilitated by modern technological developments. In many places, within and across international borders, migrants are seen as ‘undesirable’, ‘unwanted’ and ‘threats’. With the intensification and increasing complexity of globalisation, contemporary trends have led social scientists to study Migration from a multidisciplinary approach – as a crosscutting subject permeating other disciplines. Human security, securitisation, social movements, critical political economy, critical policy analysis, arts and media are a few relatively new areas in which the study of migration – processes, systems, life experiences and their dynamic interactions with economy,(nation) state, politics and culture – is being undertaken.
Consequently, this short course is aimed at understanding the interconnectedness and dynamics between different types of migration, and conflict, climate change, (under)development and other crises. First, it will shed light on the different causes and types of migration and mobilities. Next, it will examine some of the relevant and recent dynamics in the global, regional and local migration landscape, particularly with attention to the bottom-up experiences of these dynamics. Then, it will examine competing understandings, debates and policies underpinning current migration governance arrangements and regimes and assess those using different analytical lenses. Given Sri Lanka’s contribution to global migration, this short course will also attention to Sri Lanka’s experiences of migration to West Asia and the Diaspora in the West, respectively.
For more information, contact Natasha Palansuriya – natasha@cepa.lk or Saranie Wijesinghe – saranie@cepa.lk ; +94 114 690 239
