Politics

Immigration and the Liberal State

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

In this module, you examine why immigration has become one of the most contested issues on the political agenda of liberal states across Europe and North America.

You’ll considers how defining facets of the liberal state - representative democracy, constitutionalism, capitalism and nationhood - generate conflicting imperatives for immigration policymaking, which lead to paradoxical policies.

You will develop an understanding of the actors, institutions and norms that shape immigration politics in liberal democracies. You will also learn about recent trends in the immigration, citizenship and integration policies of immigrant-receiving countries in Europe and North America.

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