Dr Claire Mercer S418

This course is available on the MSc Human Geography and Urban Studies (Research), MSc in African Development, MSc in Anthropology and Development, MSc in Anthropology and Development Management, MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Empires, Colonialism and Globalisation, MSc in Environment and Development, MSc in International Migration and Public Policy, MSc in Regional And Urban Planning Studies, MSc in Social Policy and Development, MSc in Social Policy and Development: Non-Governmental Organisations, MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in Urbanisation and Development. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The aim of this course is to examine the relationship between migration, diaspora and development with a particular focus on migrants’ and diasporas’ contributions to development in the Global South. The course encourages students to develop a critical understanding of the role of different diasporas in political, social and economic development. This is achieved through (i) a critical consideration of theoretical debates in geography, sociology, anthropology and development studies on diaspora, migration and development, (ii) an engagement with contemporary migration and development policies, (iii) an examination of diasporas' developmental work including economic and social remittances, and political activities. The final part of the course examines these debates in the context of the African diaspora.

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the MT. 1 hour of lectures in the ST.

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the LT.

Braziel, J.E. (2008) Diaspora: an introduction, Blackwell, Oxford; Castles, S. and R. D. Wise (eds) (2008) Migration and development: perspectives from the South, International Organization for Migration, Geneva; Cohen, R. (2008) Global diasporas: an introduction, second edition, Routledge, London; Knott, C. and S. McLoughlin (eds) Diaspora: concepts, intersections, identities (2010); Mercer, C., B. Page and M. Evans (2009) Development and the African Diaspora: place and the politics of home, Zed, London; Smith, M.P. and L.E. Guarnizo (eds) (1998) Transnationalism from below, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick NJ; Vertovec, S.(2009) Transnationalism, Routledge, London.

Exam (75%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2500 words) in the ST.