Refugees: Forced Migration in Global Perspective

Harvard Summer School

SOCI S-143

Section 1

CRN 35997

Begin Registration
What does it mean to lose your home? Who are refugees? Why are there so many forced migrants in our world? How are they displaced? Where do they travel, and why? This course inquires into the nature, causes, and consequences of contemporary refugee waves in our globalized world. Students survey regional dynamics in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. We examine the particularities of refugees (compared to other migrants) and the changing nature of forced migration since the second world war. Students explore historical precedents to contemporary waves, learn about different host society approaches to asylum, compare government and criminal mechanisms of forced migration, and examine the reasons refugees are the object of increasing suspicion and hostility around the world. Particular attention is paid to the recent European Union crisis, the role of refugee camps in the twenty-first century, and alternative strategies for global asylum management by bridge and destination countries.

Instructor Info

Danilo Mandić, PhD

Associate Senior Lecturer on Sociology, Harvard University


Meeting Info

MW 8:30am - 11:30am (6/23 - 8/8)

Participation Option: On Campus, Online Asynchronous or Online Synchronous

In online asynchronous courses, you are not required to attend class at a particular time. Instead you can complete the course work on your own schedule each week.

Deadlines

Last day to register: June 17, 2025

Additional Time Commitments

Optional sections to be arranged.

Notes

Students can attend in person on campus, participate live online at the time the class meets via web conference, or watch the recorded video asynchronously. Recorded sessions are typically available within a few hours of the end of class and no later than the following business day. Harvard College students: This course is eligible for degree credit, but see important policy information.

Syllabus

All Sections of this Course

CRN Section # Participation Option(s) Instructor Section Status Meets Term Dates
26572 1 Online Asynchronous Danilo Mandic Open Jan 27 to May 17
35997 1 On Campus, Online Asynchronous, Online Synchronous Danilo Mandic Open MW 8:30am - 11:30am
Jun 23 to Aug 8