Why Do People Migrate? Part 1: Facts

This course provides a general introduction to the conditions of refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migrants worldwide (data, regions, etc.) and an overview of the terminology used. It then analyses specific cases in the most relevant geographical contexts, including the asylum seekers arriving in Europe through the Mediterranean, the undocumented Mexican migrants crossing the US border, the Syrian refugees in Turkey and the Rohingya in Australia. In discussing these cases, we will explore the dilemmas behind humanitarian protection and irregular migration for labour purposes.

The course is based on video lectures, didactic videos and podcast interviews with international experts. Assignments consist of short quizzes for each unit and a journal exercise at the end of the course. Suggestions for further reading will be included in order to achieve a more in-depth understanding.

To learn more about the theories that explain international migration, check out Part 2: Theories

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
Unit 1.1 – What are irregular migration and asylum?
Unit 1.2 – Let us talk about words!

CHAPTER 2 – EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Unit 2.1 – Irregular border crossings towards the EU
Unit 2.2 – Refugee status in Europe
Unit 2.3 – The case of Syrian refugees in Turkey

CHAPTER 3 – AMERICAS
Unit 3.1 – Irregular Latin-American migrants in US agriculture
Unit 3.2 – Gender and irregular migration in Latin America

CHAPTER 4 – ASIA AND OCEANIA
Unit 4.1 – Maritime arrivals in Australia
Unit 4.2 – The case of Rohingya refugees