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CSOn4006 MIGRATION, TRANSNATIONALISM AND THE CITY
AUTUMN 2024
Odd Thursdays, 14:00 to 17:40, Room U43
PLEASE NOTE: The first class, on October 3, will be held from 12:00 to 15:40.
Instructors
prof. Bernadette Nadya Jaworsky, Ph.D. (room 3.66, Wednesdays 11:00 – 12:00;
jaworsky@fss.muni.cz)
RNDr. Markéta Seidlová, Ph.D. (office hours by appointment; 251912@mail.muni.cz)
Guest lecturers
Jan Kopkáš (Brno Expat Centre)
E-mail: kopkas@brnopolis.eu
Don Sparling (Brno Expat Centre)
E-mail: sparling@brnopolis.eu
Course Outline
The course introduces students to the study of migration and immigrant incorporation from the
perspective of transnationalism. It traces the formation of transnational approaches to the study
of migration and its implications for the methodology of migration research. It explores how
moving beyond the perspective of the nation state changes the study of migration and related
phenomena. Moreover, the course studies transnational migration from the city perspective: it
explores the city as a context of reception for immigrants and discusses how cities respond to
the arrival of newcomers. Classes are highly interactive and special attention is paid to
application of theoretical knowledge in the understanding of contemporary migration events as
well as discussion of solutions to selected problems in the sphere of migration. Invited guest
lecturers provide students with fresh insights into their work in the field of migration.
Course objectives
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
• Define and discuss transnational studies and transnational approaches to migration,
including the critical assessment of transnationalism
• Design a research methodology for studying transnational migration
• Analyze the context of reception for immigrants in a city
• Understand formation of integration policies for immigrants in the city context
Conditions for Passing the Course
1) Participation in class (discussions, group projects) (20 %)
- 5 points for each class (students who cannot attend the class due to illness,
technical problems or other serious personal reasons should contact the
instructors for individual extra work);
2) Written Assignments (20 %)
- 5 points for each home assignment (4 discussion papers);
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3) Final group paper (3,500 – 4,000 words) (60 %)
- 10 % for the draft;
- 5 % for the peer review;
- and 45 % for the final paper.
Subject Points Delivery term Notes
Discussion Papers 20 Wednesdays at 11:00 Sessions 2, 4, 5, 6
(5 points each)
Class Participation 20 Thursdays in class Sessions 2, 4, 5, 6
(5 points each)
Topic of the final paper (included
in the
points
for draft)
October 31 at 23:59 E-mail to both of
instructors
Draft of the final paper 10 December 15 at 11:00
Peer review of final paper
draft
5 December 18 at 23:59
Final group research
paper
45 January 19 at 23:59
Evaluation is based upon this scale:
90-100 points – A
80-89 points – B
70-79 points – C
66-69 points – D
60-65 points – E
0-59 points – F
Study Materials and Instructions
• For each session, readings are specified in the syllabus. All the required texts are
available in electronic form in the IS Study Materials folder and are linked to the
Interactive Syllabus.
• Instructions for group projects will be specified in class.
• Instructions for the assignments will be available in the Study Materials.
• Please, check the Interactive Syllabus regularly for actual readings and study
instructions: https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/fss/podzim2024/CSOn4006/
Academic Honesty
The Faculty of Social Studies at MU expects students to know the study rules and maintain
academic honesty by refraining from plagiarism and from cheating during exams. Plagiarism
means that one presents other peoples’ ideas as one’s own and does not credit the author.
Plagiarism is one of the most serious breaches of ethical standards in the academic environment,
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for it denies the mission of the university and the meaning of studying. From a legal perspective,
plagiarism is the stealing of intellectual property. In addition, the use of AI tools should be
judicious and under the direction of the teacher. The official FSS policy on academic honesty
and on the use of AI technology are available in the course’s interactive syllabus in IS.
Academic dishonesty is not tolerated under any circumstances at FSS. The minimum penalty
for academic dishonesty is expulsion from the course, a grade of F for the semester, and
referral to the Faculty disciplinary committee.
PLEASE NOTE:
All assignments may require an oral defence. Students will have to prove that their paper does
not contain parts that can be classified as plagiarized or contain academic fraudulence. Students
have to demonstrate that they used all the references enlisted in the paper and show beyond
doubt that they wrote the paper by being able to defend it in a discussion.
Course schedule
1. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE (October 3) (Jaworsky/Seidlová)
Attention! This lesson will be held already from 12:00 (in the room U43).
We have linked the Syllabus and the Discussion Paper Guideline files in the Interactive
Syllabus.
2. MIGRATION THEORIES AND THE RISE OF THE TRANSNATIONAL
MIGRATION PERSPECTIVE (October 17) (Seidlová)
Readings prior to class:
Szaló, Csaba. “Transnational Migrations: Cross-Border Ties, Homes, and Theories.” In: Ondřej
Hofírek, Radka Klvaňová, Michal Nekorjak (eds). 2009. Boundaries in Motion. Rethinking
Contemporary Migration Events. Brno: CDK. (32 pp.)
Amelina, Anna, Faist, Thomas. 2012. “De-naturalizing the national in research methodologies:
key concepts of transnational studies in migration.” Ethnic and Racial Studies 35, 10 (2012):
1707–24. (17 pp.)
Boccagni, P., Hondagneu-Sotelo, P. 2021. Integration and the struggle to turn space into “our”
place: Homemaking as a way beyond the stalemate of assimilations vs. transnationalism.”
International Migration, 2023 (61): 154-167.
Discussion Paper: to be submitted to IS-Study Materials-Homework Vault by October 16,
11:00.
(Please check the discussion paper guidelines in Study Materials)
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Group Project (in-class): In this class we will take a quick journey through the development
of migration theories and transnational perspective on migration.
Additional readings (recommended):
Levitt, P. and N. Glick Schiller. 2004: Conceptualizing Simultaneity: A Transnational Social
Field Perspective on Society. International Migration Review 38(3): 1002-1039.
Glick Schiller, N., L. Basch, and C. Szanton Blanc. 1995. “From Immigrant to Transmigrant:
Theorizing Transnational Migration.” Anthropological Quarterly, 68(1): 48-63.
Portes, A. 2001. “Introduction: The Debates and Significance of Immigrant Transnationalism.”
Global Networks 1(3): 181-194.
Interview with Peggy Levitt: “How can migration theory do better?” Medium.com. Accessed
August 31, 2022 from https://medium.com/migration-systems/how-can-migration-theory-do-
better-a5ba48e94eae
INTERIM HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:
Paper topic due to be sent by email to both instructors by October 31, 23:59; one paragraph
describing your paper topic and theoretical perspective.
3. NO CLASS ON OCTOBER 31
Due to the Reading Week, there is no class on this day (not in the room nor online).
Please use this time as time to work on your group project (i.e. on the final group research
paper).
4. MIGRATION AND MULTI-LEVEL GOVERNANCE (November 14) (Seidlová)
Readings prior to class:
Ambrosini, M., Boccagni, P. 2015. “Urban Multiculturalism beyond the ‘Backlash’: New
Discourses and Different Practices in Immigrant Policies across European Cities.” Journal of
Intercultural Studies 36 (1): 35 – 53. (18 pp.)
Scholten, P., Penninx, R. (2016). The Multilevel Governance of Migration and Integration. In:
Garcés-Mascareñas, B., Penninx, R. (eds) Integration Processes and Policies in Europe.
IMISCOE Research Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21674-4_6
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Discussion Paper: to be submitted to IS-Study Materials-Homework Vaults by November 13,
11:00.
Group Project (in-class): TBA
Additional readings (recommended):
de Graauw, E., Vermeulen, F. 2016. “Cities and the politics of immigrant integration:
a comparison of Berlin, Amsterdam, New York City, and San Francisco.” Journal of Ethnic
and Migration Studies, 42:6, 989-1012.
Gebhardt, D. 2016. “Re-thinking urban citizenship for immigrants from a policy perspective:
the case of Barcelona.” Citizenship Studies, 20:6-7, 846-866.
Research reports of Migration Policy Institute,
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/reports
Margie McHugh. 2014. Immigrant Civic Integration and Service Access Initiatives: City-Sized
Solutions for City-Sized Needs. MPI Report:
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/immigrant-civic-integration-and-service-access-
initiatives-city-sized-solutions-city-sized
5. CITIES AS A CONTEXT OF RECEPTION FOR IMMIGRANTS (November 28)
(Jaworsky/Brno Expat Center)
Readings prior to class:
Jaworsky, B. N. et al. 2012. New Perspectives on Immigrant Contexts of Reception: The
Cultural Armature of Cities. Nordic Journal of Migration Studies 2 (1), pp. 78-88. (10 pp.)
Glick Schiller, N., & Çağlar, A. 2009. Towards a Comparative Theory of Locality in Migration
Studies: Migrant Incorporation and City Scale. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 35 (2),
pp. 177–202. (25 pp.)
Foner, N. 2007. “How exceptional is New York? Migration and multiculturalism in the empire
city.” Ethnic and Racial Studies 30 (6), pp. 999-1023. (24 pp.)
Blog of Brno Expat Centre: What do expats say (available at
http://www.brnoexpatcentre.eu/category/what-expats-say)
Discussion Paper: to be submitted to IS-Study Materials-Homework Vaults by November 27,
11:00.
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Group Project (in-class): In the first part of this class, we will discuss the readings assigned
for this week’s meeting and analyze Jaworsky et al.’s concept of “cultural armature.” Students
should bring their own observations from a city of their choice that we would discuss in
relation to the readings. In the second part of this class, we will first listen to a short lecture
about Brno from the perspective of migrants prepared by Jan Kopkáš and Don Sparling from
Brno Expat Centre. We will then work on the project “Attracting Talent” – What are the
potentially strong and weak points of Brno from the point of view of a foreigner? How could
the city present itself to attract well-educated, talented individuals? For example, what would
keep you here after your studies?
Additional reading (recommended):
Kong, L. 2012. “Ambitions of a global city: arts, culture and creative economy in ‘Post-Crisis’
Singapore.” International Journal of Cultural Policy18 (3), pp. 279-294.
6. LEGAL AND POLITICAL INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS (December 12)
(Seidlová)
Readings prior to class:
Ekman, J., & Amnå, E. (2012). Political participation and civic engagement: Towards a new
typology. Human Affairs, 22(3), 236–18. https://doi.org/10.2478/s13374-012-0024-1
Herman, B., Jacobs, D. (2015). Ethnic Social Capital and Political Participation of Immigrants.
In: Ryan, L., Erel, U., D’Angelo, A. (eds) Migrant Capital. Migration, Diasporas and
Citizenship. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137348807_8
Discussion Paper: to be submitted to IS-Study Materials-Homework Vaults by December 11,
11:00.
Group Project (in-class): TBA
Additional readings (recommended):
Bilodeau, A., & Scott, C. (2023). Gender Gaps in Immigrants’ Political Participation within
and across Borders: Political Socialization or Opportunity Structures? Journal of Immigrant &
Refugee Studies, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2022.2161687
Dollmann, J. The Political Integration of Immigrants: How Pre- and Postmigration Contexts
Matter. Int. Migration & Integration 23, 1091–1125 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-
021-00867-5
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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Final group essay draft: to be submitted to IS-Study Materials-Homework Vaults by
December 15, at 11:00.
2. Peer-to-peer feedback on your colleague’s paper proposal: to be submitted to IS-Study
Materials-Homework Vaults and to your assigned peer by December 18, at 23:59.
3. Final version of the final group research essay: to be submitted to IS-Study MaterialsHomework
Vaults by January 19, at 23:59.