Since the 1980s debates on so-called “environmental refugees” have resurfaced and inspired a vivid academic and political debate in the UN, EU and at national security bodies. Within this seminar students will encounter the shifts and changes that marked that debate and learn to reflect on the relationship between academic discourses and changing political landscapes. We will explore the security-focused approaches to “environmental refugees” in the 1980s to early 2000s, the strong voices of migration scholars arguing against mono-causal perspectives of migration; international law scholars’ arguments for/ against broadening the category of “refugee” and finally turn to present-day debates on how migration in the light of climate change can be perceived as an adaptation strategy.
Lernziele/Kompetenzen: 1) Understand and explain key concepts in the changing debate on climate change and human migration 2) Identify and critically assess the features of such changing discourses and discuss them in the context of political developments 3) Practice academic skills such as presentations and debates in English 4) Practice how to write a narrative literature review