Course Syllabus

Fleeing Across Borders: International Refugee Law B

Image: Centro Astalli Palermo in historical district of Ballarò, Palermo

Semester & Location:	Fall 2024- DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Core- 3 credits
Study Tours:	Malmö, Sweden Palermo, Sicily
Major Disciplines:	Human Rights, International Relations, Legal Studies
Faculty Members:	Brittany Perry (current students please use the Canvas Inbox)
Time & Place:	Monday and Thursday 8:30-9:50 Classroom: N7-C24

Course description:

At the end of 2023, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated that over 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced and this number continues to grow as conflicts escalate worldwide. In this course, we will examine the development of international laws and policies central to this phenomenon and question the concept of the "refugee" today. Students will analyze the drivers of displacement (including persecution, conflict, and climate change) across and within regions of the world. Importantly, we will explore both the role of institutions in displacement, but also the experiences of the individual seeking refuge.

With a focus on the EU, students will gain a better understanding of how international and state actors weigh commitments to humans rights while reaffirming the legitimacy of power and state sovereignty. We will examine the consequences of the international border regime, with polices aimed at deterrence and externalization, considering questions such as: How and why is the border regime designed to keep refugees in limbo? 

Throughout the course, we will take strong advantage of location, exploring the responses of Denmark, Sweden, and Italy in depth. The course includes field studies to Malmø, Sweden and Sicily, Italy, to offer comparisons on how different EU states apply international refugee conventions and how local, non-governmental organizations play a role to fill gaps in protection. 

[1] Global Trends 2023 report (unhcr.org)

 Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the concept of the refugee and how it has shifted over time
• Distinguish between types of population movements and recognize worldwide drivers of displacement
• Understand the origins and evolution of international legal and institutional conventions and policies in governing forced migration
• Reflect on responses to asylum-seekers and refugees by states, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations
• Critically assess the unique needs of forcibly displaced persons in temporary and permanent host societies, and gaps in addressing those needs

Readings:

There is no requirement to purchase a textbook for this course.

Selections from the following texts are provided via Canvas as pdfs:

• Hamlin, Rebecca. (2021). Crossing: How We Label and React to People on the Move. Stanford University Press.
• Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, E., Loescher, G., Long, K., & Sigona, N. (Eds.). (2014). The Oxford handbook of refugee and forced migration studies. OUP Oxford.

Additional articles are listed in the "Modules" tab with associated links or attached pdfs.

Faculty:

Brittany Perry, Ph.D. (she/her/hers):

Ph.D. (Political Science, Duke University, 2013). B.A. (Political Science, University of Colorado Boulder, 2007). Assistant Professor of Government and Law, Lafayette College, 2013-2015. Instructional Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University, 2015-2020. Instructional Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, 2020-2021. External Lecturer, Copenhagen Business School, 2021-2023. 

Approach to the Course and Student Expectations:

The success of this course will depend on active involvement of ALL participants-faculty and students alike! As your instructor, I will provide the core framework of the course (applying a social science lens), but the depth of engagement with each piece of the curriculum ultimately depends on student preparation and passion. 

The course will consist of some traditional lectures, along with more interactive components, including group projects, discussions, and engagement with guest speakers. As stated in the course description, we take great advantage of PLACE in this course, engaging with locals in Denmark, Sweden, and Sicily.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T & RESPONSIBILITY in a BRAVE SPACE:

Students are expected to come prepared to each class session, having read assigned material (in the order listed on Canvas "Modules" pages) and completed assignments on time.

You are also expected to treat each other and any invited guests or onsite guides or community members with RESPECT. This means showing up on time, staying awake, and avoiding distractions. You will lose participation points (or receive a 0) if you engage in disrespectful behavior during a given course session. 

This course will deal with some heavy subjects, and we will engage with different people across a range of cultures and backgrounds. Know that we are operating in a BRAVE space, and will follow a set of Community Standards. 

Our goal is to create a learning environment that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives and experiences, and honors your identities (including race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, ability, etc.) If you ever feel we are not succeeding at this goal, please contact me so we can make a change. 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING:

College is stressful. And while doing college abroad can be AMAZING, it can also bring about more or different stressors. But fear not, DIS is here to help!

Struggling with Academics? Book an appointment with Academic Support and talk to me!

Struggling with mental health? Physical health? Culture shock? Book an appointment with our Care Team.

ACCOMODATIONS:

If you have approved accommodations from your home school and received a letter from DIS confirming your accommodations abroad, please share this with me ASAP so we can work to make necessary arrangements. 

COMMUNICATION:

I will use Canvas to make course announcements and directly message students. You can also contact me using the Canvas Inbox. 

Please note that I will do my best to respond within 24 hours, but that anything sent after 5pm on Friday will not be addressed until the following Monday. Please be sure to reach out early if you have time-specific questions (concerning a specific reading or assignment). 

Evaluation:

Attendance and Participation (20%):

Attendance is required for all scheduled classes, Field Studies, and Study Tours.  Attendance will be taken every time we meet.

If you are unable to attend class due to illness, family bereavement, or use of a pre-approved accommodation, you must proactively communicate with me to receive an excused absence. If granted, you remain responsible for any material covered or assigned in class during your absence.

Due to the experiential nature of the DIS program, tardiness and frequent absences, even if excused, may negatively impact your final participation grade. 

In addition to attending all scheduled classes and activities, active participation is required and will factor into your final grade. Active participation may involve, but is not limited to:

• Active listening and responding thoughtfully and constructively during in class discussions and lectures
• Completing supplemental surveys, non-graded quizzes, discussion prompts 
• Contributing to in-class research projects 
• Posing thoughtful questions to guest speakers or guides 

Students will be able to track attendance on Canvas and participation grades will be posted regularly throughout the semester. This is so you will have time to reflect, ask questions, and enhance engagement if you choose.

Group Assignments (20%):

Throughout the semester, you will have between 4-5 group assignments (weighted equally). These will be research-based projects to enhance our curriculum and/or inform our study tours. The purpose of most of these assignments is to share knowledge on a specific subject area or group with your peers.

You will have time in class to work on group assignments, but note that some work may need to be coordinated and finished outside of class time. 

Short Papers (15% each):

You will complete 2 out of 3 possible short papers during the semester. These papers are 800-1000 words in length and the prompts, rubrics, and due dates appear in the "Assignments" tab.

Be mindful of your schedule and select the 2 papers and respective due dates that work best for YOU. But also remember that the end of the semester can be VERY packed, thus finishing assignments early (papers 1 & 2) is a good strategy! Note that you do not have the option to write all three papers. 

Final Project (30%):

Your final project will be a video assignment completed individually OR in a group. You will be drawing on our long study tour to draw out the meaning of the Sicilian borderscape.

Grading and Late Policy

Grade Make-Up:

Assignment	Percent
Attendance and Participation:	20%
Group Assignments	20%
Short written papers (select 2)	30% (15% each)
Final Project (Video/Audio project)	30%

Grade dispute:

Any student who is not satisfied with a grade on a given assessment must submit, in writing, a description of the issue in dispute (i.e. what is allegedly mis-graded and why you believe it is mis-graded.) If necessary, I will set a meeting to discuss the issue in person. I will then decide whether to raise, lower, or leave the grade unchanged. 

Late Policy:

For every day an assignment is late, you will lose 10 points. I will not accept assignments that are more than 5 calendar days late due to the fast-paced nature of the course. Please plan ahead and turn everything in on time.

Use of ChatGPT or AI Bots:

While papers written entirely using ChatGPT or other AI tools will NOT be accepted, you may use these tools in a professional manner for generating ideas, building outlines, or even formatting your work in this course. But please be cautious of the errors that can occur through an AI generated search! If I catch these errors in grading an assignment, or if anything is clearly copy/pasted without proper citations, you are at risk of receiving a zero.

If you use AI in any part of your research or writing process, you must include a short note at the end of your work describing how these tools were used. If you do not include this note, you will receive a grade penalty (up to 50%). 

Use of laptops or cellphones:

The use of laptops is allowed and even encouraged for many class sessions. However, if your laptop becomes a distraction and you are not using it for course purposes, you will be asked to put it away.

Unless there is an emergency (consult with me!), you are to refrain from using your cell phone during class, guest lectures, and site visits. On site visits, please use a small notebook for note taking as opposed to using your phone. 

Academic Regulations:

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

 

Notes on Course Summary:

Please note that this schedule is subject to modification. You will have advance notice of any changes. But do not schedule any travel on Monday or Thursday throughout the semester in case class sessions need to be rescheduled.

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org