Migrants, Minorities and Belonging in Denmark
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Draft Syllabus Migrants, Minorities and Belonging in Denmark DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad, Fall 2017 SOC, 3-credit Elective Course Related Disciplines: Ethnic Studies, Religious Studies, Sociology. Program Director: Neringa Vendelbo Program Assistant: Alex Berlin Mondays and Thursdays: 11:40 – 13:00 Location: TBA Migrant Communities and Religious Diversity in Denmark I DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad Related Disciplines: Ethnic Studies, Religious Studies, Sociology. Page 1 of 16 Draft Syllabus Course Description This course is about the story of the lives of migrant communities in Denmark. Migration has never been more relevant as millions of people around the world leave their homes to travel and stay in faraway places in search of work, an education, to form families, or escape from political persecution and civil wars in their homelands. Economic globalization, decolonization, cheap international airfares, the revolution in communication technology, wars, and natural catastrophes have massively increased the movement of people around the world during the last century. Migrating to a new country however involves a new set of challenges for those who are on the move such as finding a new source of livelihood, learning a new language, adapting to new cultural customs, keeping links with the homeland, finding life partners, and raising families in different cultural settings. In Denmark, immigrants are often portrayed in rather stereotypical ways such as “good, hard-working, and high skilled” professionals, religious extremists, or parasites on the Danish welfare system. This course aims at challenging such stereotypes, nuancing the debate on immigration in Denmark by focusing on the diversity and experiences of a variety of immigrant communities that come from different national, ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Learning Objectives By the end of course, students should be able to Explain concepts and theories of migration and integration covered in the course Evaluate immigration laws, policies, and debates in Denmark with reference to class discussions, obligatory course readings, and Danish/international media reports Compare and contrast experiences and challenges faced by migrant communities and religious minorities in Denmark in terms of work, religious, family and social life from their own point of view with the viewpoints of Danish/international media The course is divided into four parts: Part I: Understanding Migration. In the two (2) introductory sessions, we will discuss the following concepts and approaches to explain the phenomenon of migration and its effects on migrant communities, their self-perceptions, perceptions of the host country and their linkages with their countries of origin: (a) global migration, transnationalism and diaspora and; (b) travel, mobility and cultural identities: immigrant racialization in contemporary Europe Part II: Immigration in Denmark: Laws and Integration Policies. This module includes seven (7) sessions which will deal with (a) Immigration in Denmark from late 1960s onwards: Integration policies; (b) Current Refugee Crisis and Europe; (c) Migrant Life in Denmark: Asylum-seekers and Refugees in Denmark; (d) Labour Migrants from Central and Eastern European Countries and ‘Social Dumping’; (e) High-Skilled Migrant Life in Denmark; (f) Migrant Life in Denmark: Health and Linguistic Challenges; and (g) Migrant Life in Denmark: Health and Linguistic Challenges. Migrant Communities and Religious Diversity in Denmark I DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad Related Disciplines: Ethnic Studies, Religious Studies, Sociology. Page 2 of 16 Draft Syllabus Part III: Immigrant Communities in Denmark. This part includes four (5) sessions which will examine diverse immigrant communities in Denmark, their background for immigration, opportunities available to them and challenges they may have faced in terms of family life, business, job market, food, language, and religious practices. This part of the course will also explore the modes of interaction that immigrants have with the host society. These are (a) Pakistani Migrant Community; (b) Turkish Mirgant Community; (c) German Minority in Denmark; (d) Chinese and African migrants (mainly including Somalis and Ghanaians); and (e) American immigrant community. Part IV. Religious (and other) Minorities. This part will deal with key religious (and other) minority communities, their life and experiences in Denmark. The four (4) sessions will be dedicated to (a) Jews in Denmark; (b) Muslims in Denmark; (c) Sikhs, Hindus, and Buddhists in Denmark; and (d) LGBT. Teaching Approach This course will use a combination of lectures, class activities, group work, debates, student presentations, exercises, fieldwork and cases. Similarly, field studies are meant to complement the course work by placing you in the practical field to extend and rethink what you read about, discuss in class, and encounter in real life situations. Similarly, by way of writing an academic paper, the students will have the opportunity of gaining an in-depth knowledge of the subject. Students are expected to be: a) active participants in class discussions b) regularly study course readings to have background knowledge of topics discussed in class c) collaborate in groups during class time for knowledge exchange d) bring their journal to class and write in it frequently e) take an active part in creating a sincere, interesting, and safe classroom environment Attendance You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss a class for any reason, please contact the faculty no later than the day of the missed class. If you miss multiple classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified and they will follow-up with you to make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but in the case of multiple absences you will need to provide a doctor’s note. Academic Honesty Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism Migrant Communities and Religious Diversity in Denmark I DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad Related Disciplines: Ethnic Studies, Religious Studies, Sociology. Page 3 of 16 Draft Syllabus detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions. Use of Laptops or Phones in Class Computers and iPhones are allowed in class PURELY for note taking purposes as well as making online search for topics as class exercises. In case of other uses such as Facebook, emails or internet surfing, it will have a negative impact on your participation grade. Cell phones are to be shut off during class and texting/SMS'ing etc. during class will have a negative impact on your participation grade. It is important that we create a collaborative and engaging class culture. Program contact details This course falls under the Sociology Program. If you have any questions or concerns with this course, please contact one of the following people: Neringa Bigailaite Vendelbo Alex Berlin Program Director, SOC Program Assistant, SOC V5.25 V5.25 Course Requirements Class attendance and field study trips are mandatory. The final grade will be based on the following evaluation: Assignment Percentage Pages Engagement & Class 20% n.a. Participation 10% n.a. Class Assignment (Quiz) Interview + Class 15% + 15% n.a. Presentations Migrant Communities and Religious Diversity in Denmark I DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad Related Disciplines: Ethnic Studies, Religious Studies, Sociology. Page 4 of 16 Draft Syllabus Final Paper Submission of Research Question Submission of a brief written 40% 6-9 account of DataCollection/Literature Review First Draft Final Paper Engagement 20% means being on time and attending classes and field studies, doing the readings, meeting assignment deadlines, and, most importantly, being actively engaged in all class sessions. Contribution to the class is critical for both individual and class success. The quality of each student’s work on group activities will be considered as part of the class participation grade. In other words, it will not be enough to “be there” for a group activity; YOU MUST BE A PRODUCTIVE PARTICIPANT in the process and your work must contribute significantly to the final product. I expect students to come to class having completed the assignments thoroughly and thoughtfully and, therefore, to arrive ready to discuss, debate, engage, reflect, and question. I expect students to respect various points of view, but also to challenge one another’s thinking and my thinking too. Good class participation is not the same as “talking the most” rather, a measure of each student’s contributions to our shared learning experiences. Class Assignment 10%: You will be given a quiz based on the course materials covered so far in class. Details will be provided in class prior to the quiz. Interview + Class Presentation 15% + 15%: In this assignment, you are required to