New Lectures in History (300-0-28)
Topic
Global History of Refugees
Instructors
Lauren K Stokes
847/467-3086
Harris Hall - Room 235
Lauren Stokes is a historian of modern Europe with a particular focus on migration and race in German history. She is currently at work on a book about “family” migrants and asylum seekers in West Germany. She also enjoys thinking about capitalism, gender and sexuality, and public history.
Meeting Info
University Hall 101: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
Topic: Global History of Refugees
The twentieth century was often called "the century of the refugee," but with over 84 million people displaced from their homes in 2022, the 21st century is well on its way to claiming this dubious distinction. In light of the continued prevalence of mass displacement, ethnic cleansing, and statelessness throughout the world, we need to move past experiencing each new episode as a sudden, singular and unprecedented "crisis" in order to understand the enduring patterns that continue to produce refugees every single day.
In this course, students will learn about the kinds of events that have produced mass displacement since the late nineteenth century and the way that "the refugee" has consequently been defined in international law, humanitarian action, and public imaginaries. While states have often defined refugees as "problems" in need of a "solution," we will also examine how refugee individuals and communities have generated their own politics to challenge their categorization and marginalization.
Learning Objectives
* Students will be able to identify and explain key concepts in the international refugee regime across the 19th and 20th centuries
* Students will be able to conduct primary source research on historical news sources and construct arguments using primary sources.
* Students will be able to understand how attitudes towards refugees have changed over time and place current events in historical context.
Evaluation Method
Class participation, research papers, take-home final exam
Class Materials (Required)
All the assigned readings will be uploaded on Canvas
Class Notes
History Area(s) of Concentration: European, GLOBAL
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - University Library 3622: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - University Library 3670: Thurs 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - University Library 3670: Thurs 3:00PM - 3:50PM