Syllabus

• Week 1

  Border controls and freedom of movement

  • Introduction

    Here you will be introduced to the new four-week course, as well as to the current week.

  • Border controls

    Here we will start to unveil the how and the where of border controls.

  • The right to freedom of movement in international law

    We will investigate the human right to leave any country including one’s own, and the ways it has been limited by border controls.

  • The impact of globalisation on migrant movements

    Here we will see that globalisation is a driver of migration of people in the Global South.

  • Wrap up

    Here you will find some additional resources and a summary of the week.

• Week 2

  Asylum seekers and refugees

  • Introduction

    You will be introduced to International Refugee Law.

  • Analysis of the protections provided by the Refugee Convention 1951

    Here we will examine the definition of a refugee and consider the key protections accorded by the Refugee Convention to those seeking protection.

  • Relevance of the Refugee Convention in the 21st century

    We will examine Western states’ allegations concerning burden sharing, and consider some of the strengths and weaknesses of the Convention.

  • Wrap up

    Here you will find additional resources, support for your research, a repeat poll and a summary of the week.

• Week 3

  Deterritorialisation of border controls

  • Introduction

    You will be introduced to the concepts of extra territorial border controls, externalisation and deterritorialisation of border controls.

  • A focus on visas

    Here you will investigate the role that visas play in restricting migration.

  • Focus on interdictions at sea

    Interceptions of vessels carrying migrants across seas are known as interdictions. We shall see that while often described as “saving lives”, the primary purpose is border control.

  • Consequences for migrants of deterritorialisation of border controls

    Here we examine the impact that deterritorialisation has on migrants fleeing and migrants desperate to find work abroad.

  • Assignment: border controls in migration crises

    In this activity you will undertake your own assignment, and reflect on the activity in a Discussion.

  • Wrap up

    Here you will find additional resources, a repeat poll, and a summary of the week.

• Week 4

  Human trafficking and smuggling of persons

  • Introduction

    You will be introduced to two UN treaties and consider the context for their adoption. This will assist you in assessing some of the claims made about states' claims relating to their fight against smugglers and traffickers.

  • Key provisions of the Trafficking Protocol

    You will see that while law makes a distinction between smuggling and trafficking, it is hard to distinguish the trafficked from the smuggled. You will examine the impact of the treaties on sovereign choices about border controls.

  • Analysis of the Protocols

    Here you will consider scholarly critiques of the Protocols.

  • Wrap up

    Here you will find additional resources, a test, a repeat poll and a summary of the week.

Who will you learn with?