Learning Diversity: Germany and Global Migration (248-0-1)
Instructors
Alexander John Holt
Meeting Info
Kresge 3354 German Seminar Rm.: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM
Overview of class
Climate change and political instability in South America and Africa, along with war in Ukraine and the Middle East, have displaced hundreds of millions of people, leading to an unprecedented rise in the number of asylum seekers in Europe and the United States, most notably in cities like Berlin and Chicago. In this class, we will discuss this global phenomenon as it has impacted state and local governments, political debates, and cultural representations in the European Union, particularly in Germany. The so-called refugee crisis of 2015-2016 and the more recent arrivals of people fleeing war and climate catastrophe have re-defined Europe's self-perception, with Germany very much in the focus of global attention. The government's decision to accommodate more than a million refugees in 2015 met praise and criticism alike, both inside and outside Germany. And subsequent shifts in German public discourse and state policy have shown the lasting influence of historical conversations about immigration and identity. In this course, we will address current and historical migration "crises" as treated in the German-speaking world with an eye to its representation in the media and culture, the manifold political responses, and historical debates on migration, citizenship, and diversity. Finally, we will compare the situation in Germany to public debates in the US and Chicago concerning the arrival of asylum-seekers from Venezuela and elsewhere.
Learning Objectives
- Narrate and describe recent political, social, and cultural developments related to the European "refugee crisis";
- Compare and contrast current experiences and structures of migration to historical experiences and structures of migration throughout the twentieth century;
- Distinguish between various theories and understandings of migration, asylum, and multiculturalism, and evaluate their respective strengths and weaknesses with regard to the comprehension of real-world situations and the interpretation of texts and films;
- Create two short-form and one long-form written argument based on critical engagement with primary sources, scholarly publications, newspaper articles, literary texts, or films.
Teaching Method
Seminar
Evaluation Method
Attendance
Class participation
Group work
Paper, final
Presentations
Readings
Writing assignments
Class Materials (Required)
N/a
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area