Migrations, diversity, and non-discrimination
A.A. 2025/2026
Obiettivi formativi
The course aims to familiarize students with the debate on migration (including immigration), diversity (in particular, multiculturalism), and (non-)discrimination. As such, the themes covered in the course lie at the intersection of philosophy and the social sciences and should serve as a theoretical background for understanding and possibly taking part in major societal debates.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Knowledge and understanding:
· An overview of the central theoretical approaches to migration, cultural diversity, and, as related to these, non-discrimination.
· An understanding of basic theoretical positions, problems, and arguments in normative theories about migration and multiculturalism.
· Familiarity with new research and ongoing debates in the field.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
· Ability to assess the strength and weaknesses of different positions and arguments in theories of migration, integration, diversity, discrimination.
· Ability to use scholarly terminology relating to the field.
· Ability to determine the relevance of normative theories of migration and multiculturalism to both historical and contemporary problems and debates.
· Ability to convey research results and theoretical knowledge to a general audience.
· Ability to use the acquired knowledge and skills in various fields where the question of migration, integration, diversity, and discrimination is relevant.
· Ability to use the acquired knowledge and skills in written assignments.
· An overview of the central theoretical approaches to migration, cultural diversity, and, as related to these, non-discrimination.
· An understanding of basic theoretical positions, problems, and arguments in normative theories about migration and multiculturalism.
· Familiarity with new research and ongoing debates in the field.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
· Ability to assess the strength and weaknesses of different positions and arguments in theories of migration, integration, diversity, discrimination.
· Ability to use scholarly terminology relating to the field.
· Ability to determine the relevance of normative theories of migration and multiculturalism to both historical and contemporary problems and debates.
· Ability to convey research results and theoretical knowledge to a general audience.
· Ability to use the acquired knowledge and skills in various fields where the question of migration, integration, diversity, and discrimination is relevant.
· Ability to use the acquired knowledge and skills in written assignments.
Periodo: Secondo semestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento non può essere seguito come corso singolo. Puoi trovare gli insegnamenti disponibili consultando il catalogo corsi singoli.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Periodo
Secondo semestre
Programma
How should the liberal state respond to cultural diversity? To what extent should it treat new arrivals, as opposed to its old citizens, differently? What duties, and rights, follow from the acceptance, or denial, of migrants to state territory? Should newcomers be integrated and if so, how? Should there be any discrimination against immigrants? To answer these questions (and others), the course is organized in three modules corresponding to the three areas in its title: migration, diversity, and non-discrimination. Most of the course will focus on migration and its different aspects (refugees, labour migration, open orders, among others). It will then zoom in on diversity, through the discussion of multiculturalism and liberalism. Finally, non-discrimination will be discussed toward the end of the course by connecting the topic to the issue of migration and diversity.
Prerequisiti
The course is taught in English (B2).
Metodi didattici
The course is a mix of lectures and seminar discussion. Each week two two-hour sessions will take place. One of these sessions, in the first 8 weeks of the course, will be a lecture: max one hour followed by a short break and a Q/A (open plenum discussion). The other session will be devoted to the discussion of readings, max. two per session (altogether ca. 40-50 pages). For each week, there are assigned main readings that are compulsory and will form the topic of seminar discussion; and complementary readings that are not compulsory and can be used to deepen one's knowledge of the topic (and, for example, to base their final essay submission on). In the last two weeks of the course, students will give brief presentations in the seminars in course toward preparing their written essays and to receive feedback.
Materiale di riferimento
The following are the compulsory readings:
· Barry, Brian (2001) "The Strategy of Privatization", in: Barry: Culture and Equality. Cambridge Mass.: Harward University Press, 19-62.
· Carens, Joseph, The Ethics of Immigration. Oxford University Press. 2013. Chapter 11: "The Case for Open Borders." pp. 225-254.
· De Schutter, Helder, Lea Ypi, "Mandatory Citizenship for Immigrants" British Journal of Political Science, Vol. 45, No. 2 (APRIL 2015), pp. 235-251. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123414000568
· Dummett, Michael "Immigration." Res Publica 10, 115-122 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:RESP.0000034635.33014.da
· Galston, William (1995) "Two Concepts of Liberalism", Ethics 105, 516-534. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2382140
· Gerver, Mollie, Miranda Simon, Patrick Lown & Dominik Duell (2024). "The immigration discrimination dilemma". Ethics & Global Politics, 17:2-3, 27-50 https://doi.org/10.1080/16544951.2024.2377848
· Gibney, Matthew, "Refugees and justice between states" European Journal of Political Theory, 2015, 14(4), 448-463. DOI: 10.1177/1474885115585325
· Kymlicka, Will (2019) "The rise and fall of multiculturalism? New debates on inclusion and accommodation in diverse societies", International Social Science Journal 68: 133-148, DOI: 10.1111/issj.12188
· Kymlicka, Will, Multicultural Odysseys: Navigating the New International Politics of Diversity. Oxford University Press. 2007. Chapter 3: "The Forms of Liberal Multiculturalism." 61-86 pp.
· Lim, Désirée (2024). "Bordering and status-harms." Ethics & Global Politics, 17:2-3, 51-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/16544951.2024.2367770
· Lim, Desiree, "Low-Skilled Migrants and the Historical Reproduction of Immigration Injustice" Ethical Theory and Moral Practice volume 24, pages 1229-1244 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-021-10240-1
· Lister, Matthew, "Who are Refugees?" Law and Philosophy, Vol. 32, No. 5 (September 2013), pp. 645-671. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24572417
· Miller, David, Strangers in our Midst. Harvard University Press. 2016. Chapter 8: Integrating Immigrants. 130-151.
· Miller, David, Strangers in our Midst. Harvard University Press. 2016. Chapter 4: "Closed borders" pp. 38-56.
· Nuti, Alasia, "Temporary Labor Migration within the EU as Structural Injustice" Ethics and International Affairs 32 (2):203-225 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1017/S089267941800031X
· Barry, Brian (2001) "The Strategy of Privatization", in: Barry: Culture and Equality. Cambridge Mass.: Harward University Press, 19-62.
· Carens, Joseph, The Ethics of Immigration. Oxford University Press. 2013. Chapter 11: "The Case for Open Borders." pp. 225-254.
· De Schutter, Helder, Lea Ypi, "Mandatory Citizenship for Immigrants" British Journal of Political Science, Vol. 45, No. 2 (APRIL 2015), pp. 235-251. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123414000568
· Dummett, Michael "Immigration." Res Publica 10, 115-122 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:RESP.0000034635.33014.da
· Galston, William (1995) "Two Concepts of Liberalism", Ethics 105, 516-534. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2382140
· Gerver, Mollie, Miranda Simon, Patrick Lown & Dominik Duell (2024). "The immigration discrimination dilemma". Ethics & Global Politics, 17:2-3, 27-50 https://doi.org/10.1080/16544951.2024.2377848
· Gibney, Matthew, "Refugees and justice between states" European Journal of Political Theory, 2015, 14(4), 448-463. DOI: 10.1177/1474885115585325
· Kymlicka, Will (2019) "The rise and fall of multiculturalism? New debates on inclusion and accommodation in diverse societies", International Social Science Journal 68: 133-148, DOI: 10.1111/issj.12188
· Kymlicka, Will, Multicultural Odysseys: Navigating the New International Politics of Diversity. Oxford University Press. 2007. Chapter 3: "The Forms of Liberal Multiculturalism." 61-86 pp.
· Lim, Désirée (2024). "Bordering and status-harms." Ethics & Global Politics, 17:2-3, 51-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/16544951.2024.2367770
· Lim, Desiree, "Low-Skilled Migrants and the Historical Reproduction of Immigration Injustice" Ethical Theory and Moral Practice volume 24, pages 1229-1244 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-021-10240-1
· Lister, Matthew, "Who are Refugees?" Law and Philosophy, Vol. 32, No. 5 (September 2013), pp. 645-671. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24572417
· Miller, David, Strangers in our Midst. Harvard University Press. 2016. Chapter 8: Integrating Immigrants. 130-151.
· Miller, David, Strangers in our Midst. Harvard University Press. 2016. Chapter 4: "Closed borders" pp. 38-56.
· Nuti, Alasia, "Temporary Labor Migration within the EU as Structural Injustice" Ethics and International Affairs 32 (2):203-225 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1017/S089267941800031X
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
Students attending at least 70% of the sessions will be assessed on the basis of:
· a short essay of max 5000 words. Students are required to submit a one-page outline for feedback prior to writing the essay;
· a presentation on a topic of their choice. This should be roughly the same topic as their eventual essay submission;
· Note that attending students must sign up for an oral exam date in order to receive a grade, but they will not actually come to the exam (in other words, the sign-up is purely a formality).
Non-attending students (i.e. students who have attended less than 70% of the sessions) will be assessed on the basis of:
· a short essay of max 5000 words. Students are required to submit a one-page outline for feedback prior to writing the essay;
· an oral examination in which their essay will be discussed with them.
Due Dates:
For the essay: one week before the date of the oral exam to which the student signs up.
For outlines: one month before the date of the oral exam to which the student signs up.
Students will get a bonus based on active participation.
· a short essay of max 5000 words. Students are required to submit a one-page outline for feedback prior to writing the essay;
· a presentation on a topic of their choice. This should be roughly the same topic as their eventual essay submission;
· Note that attending students must sign up for an oral exam date in order to receive a grade, but they will not actually come to the exam (in other words, the sign-up is purely a formality).
Non-attending students (i.e. students who have attended less than 70% of the sessions) will be assessed on the basis of:
· a short essay of max 5000 words. Students are required to submit a one-page outline for feedback prior to writing the essay;
· an oral examination in which their essay will be discussed with them.
Due Dates:
For the essay: one week before the date of the oral exam to which the student signs up.
For outlines: one month before the date of the oral exam to which the student signs up.
Students will get a bonus based on active participation.
SPS/07 - SOCIOLOGIA GENERALE - CFU: 6
Lezioni: 40 ore