Gary Freeman

Course Description

This course concentrates on the politics of immigration in two continental settings:  Western Europe and North America. We will focus on Western Europe in the period after the Second World War when millions of foreigners moved to Britain, France, Germany and other European countries to take jobs during the great economic expansion that lasted for nearly 40 years. Since the mid-seventies European states have sought to discourage most immigration for work and permanent residence and have been grappling with the consequences of previous movements. In recent years considerable responsibility for immigration policy has been transferred from states to the European Union, a development with major implications.

The leading country of immigration in the world, the US has experienced major demographic changes and considerable political conflict over immigration for the last several decades. This section of the course, in addition to giving you factual background on US migration flows, will focus on arguments for and against current policies and discussion of major policy reform proposals.

Grading Policy

1. Attendance:  5%
2. Two Exams: 70%
3. Writing Assignments: 25%

Texts

Readings, posted on blackboard or available in a printed course booklet.

Description:

This course will concentrate on the politics of immigration in two continental settings:  Western Europe and North America. We will focus on Western Europe in the period after the Second World War when millions of foreigners moved to Britain, France, Germany and other European countries to take jobs during the great economic expansion that lasted for nearly 40 years. In Europe more than America, the rapid growth of the Muslim population poses troubling issues. Secondly, we will look at immigration policy and politics in the USA. The leading country of immigration in the world, the US has experienced major demographic changes and considerable political conflict over immigration for the last several decades. This section of the course, in addition to giving you factual background on US migration flows, will focus on arguments for and against current policies and discussion of major policy reform proposals.

In sum, this class deals with the political and cultural consequences of immigration, religion, and demography.

Requirements:  

Attendance: Attendance is worth up to 5 points out of the one hundred possible on your final course average.

Exams: There will be two multiple choice  exams during regular class periods spaced at about the end of the first half of the course and on May 4 the last day of class.

Writing Assignments: Two short essays will be required.

Extra credit: Students may earn extra credit on their final course average by attending and submitting a page to page and a half report on a public lecture given on campus whose topic is salient to the course material and either designated by the instructor as eligible for extra credit or approved by the instructor upon your request. One point will be rewarded for each report up to a total of just two points.

Grades will be computed in the following manner:

Attendance        05

Exam 1              25

Exam 2              25   

Essay 1              20

Essay 2              25

Total                 100

Possible extra credit for attending and reporting on outside lectures, 02

TEXTS:

Christopher Caldwell, Reflections on the Revolution in Europe: Immigration, Islam, and the West, Doubleday, paper  Robert Koulish, Immigration and American Democracy: Subverting the Rule of Law, Routledge, paper

Course Description:
This course will focus on the political sources and consequences of global migration. It will concentrate on the politics of immigration in two continental settings:  Western Europe and North America. We will focus on Western Europe in the period after the Second World War when millions of foreigners moved to Britain, France, Germany and other European countries to take jobs during the great economic expansion that lasted for nearly 40 years. Secondly, we will look at immigration policy and politics in the USA. The leading country of immigration in the world, the US has experienced major demographic changes and considerable political conflict over immigration for the last several decades.  

Grading Policy and Requirements:  
Attendance: Students are expected to:  (1) keep up with the reading as it is assigned and (2) attend class. Students will be asked to sit in the same seat each day to facilitate the learning of names by the instructor and class members. To encourage class attendance roll will be taken. Attendance is worth up to 5 points out of the one hundred possible on your final course average.

Exams: There will be three exams during regular class periods spaced at about the end of the first and second thirds of the course and on December 8, the final scheduled class for the semester. Each exam will cover only the material since the previous exam. Exams will be a mixture of multiple choice items and essay, with some choice as to the exact mix.

Writing Assignment: Each student is required to prepare four short (two pages) essays that address one of the issues the instructor will provide at specified dates in the syllabus. These essays are meant to lay out normative arguments about nettlesome issues in immigration politics.
Extra credit: Students may earn up  to two points extra credit on their final course average by attending and submitting a page to page and a half report on a public lecture given on campus.

Grades will be computed in the following manner:
Attendance         05
Exam 1        25                    
Exam 2        25            
Exam 3    25
Essays (5pts ea)    20
Total    100

Provisional Texts:
Terry Givens, Gary P. Freeman, and David L. Leal, eds., Immigration Policy and Security: U.S., European, and Commonwealth Perspectives. New York: Routledge, 2008.

Anthony M. Messina, The Logics and Politics of Post-WWII Migration to Western Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Government 312L satisfies the second half of the mandated six hours of government that every UT student must take.  Course covers analysis of varying topics concerned with American political institutions and policies, including the United States Constitution, and assumes basic knowledge of government from GOV 310L, which is a prerequiste. May be taken for credit only once.

Government 312L satisfies the second half of the mandated six hours of government that every UT student must take.  Course covers analysis of varying topics concerned with American political institutions and policies, including the United States Constitution, and assumes basic knowledge of government from GOV 310L, which is a prerequiste. May be taken for credit only once.