Politics

Immigration and the Liberal State

Module code: L2097
Level 6
30 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Dissertation

On this module, you’ll examine the contested politics of immigration in liberal states across Europe and North America. You’ll explore the contradictory nature of immigration policies, where liberal democracies are both inclusive and exclusionary towards newcomers.

Key topics include:

• how representative democracy, constitutionalism, capitalism, and nationhood shape immigration policymaking
• the paradoxes and conflicting imperatives in immigration policies
• recent trends in immigration, citizenship, and integration policies in immigrant-receiving countries

You’ll develop an understanding of the actors, institutions, and norms that influence immigration politics in liberal democracies.

Module learning outcomes

• Identify a topic suitable for research relating to immigrtation
• Plan and carry out a research project relating to immigration in liberal states
• Locate and evaluate a range of resources appropriate to a topic on immigration
• Make use of constructive feedback on the development of their ideas in the implementation of a research topic related to immigration