Class, Labour Migration and Globalization, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Entry requirements

• A bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, behavioural sciences, health sciences or natural sciences or equivalent qualifications are required
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6) 
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course the student shall on an advanced level be able to:
 - critically review theories on migration, welfare and labour regimes at global, regional and national levels;
- link trans-national class formation with migration and segmentation of labour markets in emerging  structures of global political economy; 
- identify and demonstrate key problems and debates within the literature and current policy dilemmas at transnational and national levels;
- describe key demographic challenges and how they are related to migration.    

Course content

The course addresses international migration, emerging labour regimes and transnational class formations in globality. Against the background of the global economic crisis and neoliberal policy responses, the course introduces contemporary problems of increasing inequalities between and within countries and the role of migration in meeting these challenges. Issues of citizenship, inclusion and exclusion within post-Fordist capitalism are linked to central concepts such as race, racialization, ethnicity and gender. This includes addressing the issue of unequal migration, informalization of the economy, precarization of working life marked by ethnic, racial and gender segmentation of labour force, as well as transnational class formation. Focus will be set on analyzing and problematizing new class formations and interrogate the effects of austerity measures on the vulnerable workers.
The course will also address the demographic challenges and the question on how migration regimes interact with welfare and gender regimes around issues of global production chains, distribution, recognition and representation. The concepts such as global value chains are related to migrant workers and circular migration to the labour shortages of “ageing Europe” and upcoming deficits in service and care sectors.

Teaching and working methods

The course offers a combination of lectures, seminars, individual assignments and group assignments. Students are expected to be well prepared for lectures and to have completed assigned preparations for seminars. Language of instruction: English

Examination

The course is examined through active seminar participation and written assignments. Detailed information about the examination can be found in the course’s study guide. 

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department