ISIM Courses
Spring 2021
INAF-355: Immigrants, Refugees, & State
Taught by Professor Katharine Donato on Wednesdays from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
This course examines the causes and consequences of forced migration, focusing in particular on displacement from conflict and human rights violations. It begins with the history of the concept of ‘refuge’ and then traces the evolution of the international regime for protecting and assisting refugees and displaced persons. The course then focuses on current examples of displacement in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Europe
INAF-379: Refugees and Humanitarian Crises
Taught by Professor Elizabeth Ferris on Mondays from 9:30 a.m-12:00 p.m.
From Syria to Venezuela, Myanmar to South Sudan, Yemen to Ukraine, humanitarian crises dominate international headlines. Following a discussion of humanitarian principles and the actors in the international humanitarian system, this course will examine 10 different humanitarian crises by analyzing their causes and effects (with a particular focus on displacement and refugee movements) and efforts to prevent, respond to and recover from each crisis as well as the political, security, economic and social effects of the crisis. The course will primarily look at crises resulting from conflicts but will also consider those stemming from natural disasters, epidemics, and, in the long term, climate change.
INAF-400: Environmental Migration
Taught by Professor Victoria Hermann on Tuesdays from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
While there seems to be a general feeling that climate change will displace large numbers of people in the future, the fact is that people are already moving because of climate change and other environmental factors. From Fiji to Louisiana, New Jersey to Vietnam, people are migrating in response to disasters, sea-level rise, drought, and other climatic factors. Environmental migration will likely increase in the future. This course will look at the physical impact of climate change; concepts of environmental risk, vulnerability, and resilience; the lack of legal frameworks for people who cross borders for environmental reasons (spoiler alert: they are not refugees under international law); present and potential trends in movements; international actors and policy responses at the local, national and international levels. We’ll look at security, gender, and age dimensions of environmental migration. This is a cutting-edge issue that is bound to become more important in the future.
HIST-484: Invention of the Illegal Alien
Taught by Professor Katherine Benton-Cohen on Tuesdays from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
This course offers a chance to do original research on the fascinating time period in immigration history from 1880 to 1929. It was during these years that the legal restrictions that ended mass immigration to the United States until the 1950s were put into place. Using both primary and secondary sources, the course will trace the rise of immigration and restrictions placed on it, changing notions of citizenship, and the differentiation by race—or scientific racism—among immigrants of Asian, Mexican, and eastern and southern European background. Topics explored will include the relationship between race and citizenship status; the history of the idea of the “illegal alien”; and the gendered aspects of the immigration experience. Each student will have the opportunity to do original research using both published and archival primary sources. A field trip to the National Archives is part of the course. The first half of the course will focus on common readings to establish themes and background; the second half will be built around developing individual research interests.
INAF 648: International Migration and Development
Taught by Professor Manuel Orozco on Thursdays from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
This course is for students who are interested in acquiring a broader knowledge and a better understanding of research related to international migration and development. Topics covered include: past, present and anticipated future trends in international migration, including the various factors (e.g., economic, social, political) that influence population movements; elements of the normative and legal frameworks upon which migration policies may be based; relationships between international migration and economic development, economic growth and economic competitiveness, poverty alleviation, social networks and social support systems, national and international security, transnational organized crime, and human rights, among other issues; and institutional arrangements that enhance international cooperation to promote safe and orderly migration.
INAF 698: Intro to Humanitarian Crises
Taught by Professor Elizabeth Ferris on Tuesdays from 9:30a.m-12:00 p.m.
This course provides an overview of major principles, theories, operational concerns, and public policy issues related to complex humanitarian emergencies. The course highlights selected contemporary crises, examining the causes and consequences of these emergencies. Examples include Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chechnya, Indonesia, Haiti, and Colombia. A particular focus is the role of humanitarian issues in foreign policy and international relations.
Fall 2020
INAF-355: Immigrants, Refugees, & State
Taught by Professor Katharine Donato on Wednesdays from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
This course examines the causes and consequences of forced migration, focusing in particular on displacement from conflict and human rights violations. It begins with the history of the concept of ‘refuge’ and then traces the evolution of the international regime for protecting and assisting refugees and displaced persons. The course then focuses on current examples of displacement in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Europe
INAF-379: Refugees and Humanitarian Crises
Taught by Professor Elizabeth Ferris on Mondays from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
From Syria to Venezuela, Myanmar to South Sudan, Yemen to Ukraine, humanitarian crises dominate international headlines. Following discussion of humanitarian principles and the actors in the international humanitarian system, this course will examine 10 different humanitarian crises by analyzing their causes and effects (with a particular focus on displacement and refugee movements) and efforts to prevent, respond to and recover from each crisis as well as the political, security, economic and social effects of the crisis. The course will primarily look at crises resulting from conflicts but will also consider those stemming from natural disasters, epidemics and, in the long term, climate change.
INAF 502: Gender and Migration in Europe
Taught by Professor Joyce Mushaben on Fridays from 12:30-3:00 p.m.
Created at a time when women were traditionally excluded from the exercise of power, the European Union is now generally characterized as the most “gender-friendly” political institution on the planet. The “feminization” of migration is not a new phenomenon, but existing EU policies have exacerbated the problems of physical insecurity, economic disadvantage and social exclusion confronting female migrants over the last decade. This course analyzes a complicated web of labor migration patterns, refugee flows, family unification trends, asylum policies and human-trafficking challenges intricately connected to globalized production and consumption chains. It addresses the “securitization” of border controls introduced in the wake of the 2015 refugee crisis, relegating women’s rights as human rights to the back burner in violation of the EU gender acquis. We begin by differentiating among various types of migration, and the double-jeopardy to which male-normed legal categories subject women, children, ethnic /religious minorities and LGBTI groups. Drawing on interdisciplinary sources, we explore the role of international norms, expanded Treaty provisions and national backlash in the EU’s efforts to establish common migration, integration and asylum policies, with special attention to the reform efforts of the EU’s first female Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
INAF 648: International Migration and Development
Taught by Professor Jennifer Wistrand on Thursdays from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
This course is for students who are interested in acquiring a broader knowledge and a better understanding of research related to international migration and development. Topics covered include: past, present and anticipated future trends in international migration, including the various factors (e.g., economic, social, political) that influence population movements; elements of the normative and legal frameworks upon which migration policies may be based; relationships between international migration and economic development, economic growth and economic competitiveness, poverty alleviation, social networks and social support systems, national and international security, transnational organized crime, and human rights, among other issues; and institutional arrangements that enhance international cooperation to promote safe and orderly migration.
INAF 698: Intro to Humanitarian Crises
Taught by Professor Elizabeth Ferris on Tuesdays from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
This course provides an overview of major principles, theories, operational concerns, and public policy issues related to complex humanitarian emergencies. The course highlights selected contemporary crises, examining causes and consequences of these emergencies. Examples include Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chechnya, Indonesia, Haiti and Colombia. A particular focus is the role of humanitarian issues in foreign policy and international relations.
Spring 2020
INAF-698: Introduction to Humanitarian Crises
Taught by Professor Anne Richard on Tuesdays from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
This course provides an overview of major principles, theories, operational concerns, and public policy issues related to complex humanitarian emergencies. The course highlights selected contemporary crises, examining the causes and consequences of these emergencies. Examples include Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chechnya, Indonesia, Haiti, and Colombia. A particular focus is the role of humanitarian issues in foreign policy and international relations.
INAF-648: International Migration & Development
Taught by Jennifer Wistrand on Wednesdays from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
This course is for students who are interested in acquiring a broader knowledge and a better understanding of research related to international migration and development. Topics covered include: past, present and anticipated future trends in international migration, including the various factors (e.g., economic, social, political) that influence population movements; elements of the normative and legal frameworks upon which migration policies may be based; relationships between international migration and economic development, economic growth and economic competitiveness, poverty alleviation, social networks and social support systems, national and international security, transnational organized crime, and human rights, among other issues; and institutional arrangements that enhance international cooperation to promote safe and orderly migration.
INAF-455: Refugee and Migrant Children: Mexico, United States, and the World
SFS Centennial Lab; Taught by Elizabeth Ferris and Katharine Donato on Tuesdays from 9:30-12:00 p.m.
This new C-Lab course, Refugee and Migrant Children: Mexico, the United States and the
World will examine the ways in which governments and civil society actors facilitate the
admission and social integration of refugee and migrant children and families in host countries.
Although students in the class will attend invited class lectures and read primary-source readings, the centerpiece for the class will be a trip to the Mexico-U.S. border and to Mexico City during spring break. The emphasis on Mexico is both timely and important given it has now become both a transit and destination country for many asylum seekers from Central America. This experiential learning class will engage students to think about humanitarian practices that support children traveling with or without their families, children with special needs, and those traumatized en route. Students will take an in-depth look at the ways in which refugee and migrant children are assisted in Mexico and the United States, with a particular focus on children and families from Central America, Cuba, and Venezuela arriving in both countries.
Fall 2019
INAF-355: Immigrants, Refugees & State
Taught by Professor Elizabeth Ferris on Mondays from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
This course examines the causes and consequences of forced migration, focusing in particular on displacement from conflict and human rights violations. It begins with the history of the concept of ‘refuge’ and then traces the evolution of the international regime for protecting and assisting refugees and displaced persons. The course then focuses on current examples of displacement in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Europe.
INAF-648: International Migration & Development
Taught by Jennifer Wistrand on Wednesdays from 3:30-6:00 p.m.
This course is for students who are interested in acquiring a broader knowledge and a better understanding of research related to international migration and development. Topics covered include: past, present and anticipated future trends in international migration, including the various factors (e.g., economic, social, political) that influence population movements; elements of the normative and legal frameworks upon which migration policies may be based; relationships between international migration and economic development, economic growth and economic competitiveness, poverty alleviation, social networks and social support systems, national and international security, transnational organized crime, and human rights, among other issues; and institutional arrangements that enhance international cooperation to promote safe and orderly migration.
INAF-694: Refugee and Humanitarian Emergencies
Taught by Professor Elizabeth Ferris and Professor Kemal Kirisci on Tuesdays from 5:00-7:30 p.m.
This research seminar will critically examine a number of humanitarian crises, including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Colombia, Haiti (earthquake -2010), Iraq, Philippines (Typhoon Haiyan -2013), Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, West Africa (Ebola-2014), and Yemen. Each of these crises will be analyzed in terms of: their causes; efforts to prevent, respond to and recover from the crisis; the extent to which international legal frameworks were applied and the impact of the crisis on legal principles; the engagement of different actors (from military forces to local faith-based communities); the extent to which humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence, and impartiality were compromised in humanitarian response; the relationship between refugees, internally displaced persons and ‘trapped populations’ as determinants of international attention; and difficult operational issues around access, negotiations with non-state actors, and the relationship between security concerns and humanitarian response.
INAF-698: Intro to Humanitarian Crises
Taught by Professor Anne Richard on Tuesdays 3:30-6:00 p.m.
This course provides an overview of major principles, theories, operational concerns, and public policy issues related to complex humanitarian emergencies. The course highlights selected contemporary crises, examining causes and consequences of these emergencies. Examples include Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chechnya, Indonesia, Haiti and Colombia. A particular focus is the role of humanitarian issues in foreign policy and international relations.
Spring 2019
INAF-376: Global Child Migration
Taught by Father Richard Ryscavage, S.J.
This course is a comprehensive look at the mobility of children around the world, the causes and effects from sociological, economic, social psychological and legal perspectives. The class will show why their identity as children, not adult migrants, should drive the way children are processed by immigration authorities and government policies. We will study refugee children seeking asylum and children who are migrating for economic reasons as well as children who are internally displaced inside their country of origin. Special consideration will be given to minors who enter another country not accompanied by parents as well as children accompanied by undocumented migrant parents who enter a country without authorization. We will look at the many diverse situations of children around the world including the exploitation of children through sexual and labor trafficking and the dangers of cross border smuggling in Africa, Asia and both Latin America and North America. Students will gain a sophisticated understanding of the highly diverse and complex phenomenon of children on the move.
INAF-379: Environmental Migration
Taught by Elizabeth Ferris
While there seems to be a general feeling that climate change will displace large numbers of people in the future, the fact is that people are already moving because of climate change and other environmental factors. From Fiji to Louisiana, New Jersey to Vietnam, people are migrating in response to disasters, sea-level rise, drought and other climatic factors. Environmental migration will likely increase in the future. This course will look at the physical impact of climate change; concepts of environmental risk, vulnerability and resilience; the lack of legal frameworks for people who cross borders for environmental reasons (spoiler alert: they are not refugees under international law); present and potential trends in movements; international actors and policy responses at the local, national and international levels. We’ll look at security, gender and age dimensions of environmental migration. This is a cutting-edge issue that is bound to become more important in the future.
INAF-442: Human Rights, Humanitarian Crises & Refugees – Ethical & Religious Responses.
Taught by Father David Hollenbach, S.J.
This course explores the requirements of human rights in face of contemporary humanitarian crises and the forced migration that results from such crises. Cases will be examined from both practical and theoretical perspectives. Ethical, human rights based- perspectives that can guide response to humanitarian crisis and the plight of refugees by political and civil communities today will be considered throughout the course. The role of faith-based agencies in the response to crises and the needs of refugees will be considered.
INAF-455: Centennial Lab – Refugee and Migrant Children: Best Practices
Taught by Katharine Donato and Elizabeth Ferris
This experiential hands-on course will examine the ways in which governments and civil society facilitate the admission and social integration of refugee and migrant children and families with a particular focus on the United States and Sweden. While US policies toward refugee and migrant children have been widely criticized in recent years, Sweden is a country known for its child-sensitive policies. Sweden was the driving force behind the Convention on the Rights of the Child, consistently supports programs to recognize the particular needs of refugee and migrant children, and has generous social policies. But Sweden too has come under pressure from anti-foreigner parties and its policies are changing. This is not a traditional course where professors lecture and students take notes. Rather it is a collective learning experience where faculty and students together work toward a common goal of discerning best practices in responding to the particular needs of refugee and migrant children. In addition to the rich learning experiences for all, the end product will be a jointly-authored report to be submitted for publication and, probably more importantly, to feed into international processes to improve the way refugee and migrant children are treated when they arrive in a new country and as they settle in. Students will learn from direct conversations with many child advocates and experienced humanitarian practitioners in the Washington area, such as Kids in Need of Defense, Save the Children, and the Jesuit Refugee Service about policy and practice in the US. Students and faculty will work together to produce an overview paper highlighting best practices for refugee and migrant children, and will suggest concrete ways in which better child-sensitive policies can be implemented elsewhere. This report is intended to support refugee and children’s advocates and will feed into on-going processes in the United Nations and the network of child protection agencies.
INAF-648: International Migration & Development
Taught by Jennifer Wistrand
This course examines past, present and anticipated future trends in international migration, including the various factors (e.g., economic, social, political) that influence population movements; elements of the normative and legal frameworks upon which migration policies may be based; relationships between international migration and economic development, economic growth and economic competitiveness, the key role of remittances, poverty alleviation, social networks and social support systems, national and international security, transnational organized crime, and human rights, among other issues; and institutional arrangements that enhance international cooperation to promote safe and orderly migration.
INAF-698: Introduction to Humanitarian Crises
Taught by Anne Richard
The gateway course to the graduate certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies, this course provides an overview of the main issues in humanitarian response, including prevention and early warning of crises, refugee law and asylum, internal displacement, natural disasters, protracted and urban displacement, solutions to displacement, the international architecture for humanitarian response, and future challenges.
FALL 2018
INAF-355: Refugees, Migrants and the State
Taught by Katharine Donato
This course examines the causes and consequences of forced migration, focusing in particular on displacement from conflict and human rights violations. It begins with the history of the concept of ‘refuge’ and then traces the evolution of the international regime for protecting and assisting refugees and displaced persons. The course then focuses on current examples of displacement in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Europe.
INAF-376: Global Child Migration
Taught by Father Richard Ryscavage, S.J.
Whether trying to cross the Mediterranean in rickety ships, or turning up on the US border, children are moving across borders. This course will look at both refugee and migrant children with a particular emphasis on those who enter another country unaccompanied by parents or other adults. The US policy of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) will be assessed as will the particular issue of children exploited by trafficking.
INAF-648: International Migration & Development
Taught by Katharine Donato
This seminar is intended for students interested in preparing a research paper on a topic related to international migration. The course will focus on trends in international migration, including future economic, social, demographic, political, and other factors that will influence population movements; the elements of a normative and legal framework on which coherent migration policies could be based; the relationship between international migration and such issues as economic development, economic growth and competitiveness, poverty alleviation, trade, national and international security, social support systems, human rights, transnational organized crime, and public health; and institutional arrangements that will enhance international cooperation to promote safe and orderly migration.
INAF-694: Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies
Taught by Elizabeth Ferris and Kemal Kirisci
This research seminar will critically examine a number of humanitarian crises, including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Colombia, Haiti (earthquake -2010), Iraq, Philippines (Typhoon Haiyan -2013), Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, West Africa (Ebola-2014), and Yemen. Each of these crises will be analyzed in terms of: their causes; efforts to prevent, respond to and recover from the crisis; the extent to which international legal frameworks were applied and the impact of the crisis on legal principles; the engagement of different actors (from military forces to local faith-based communities); the extent to which humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence, and impartiality were compromised in humanitarian response; the relationship between refugees, internally displaced persons and ‘trapped populations’ as determinants of international attention; and difficult operational issues around access, negotiations with non-state actors, and the relationship between security concerns and humanitarian response.
INAF-698: Introduction to Humanitarian Crises
Taught by Anne Richard
This course provides an overview of major principles, theories, operational concerns, and public policy issues related to complex humanitarian emergencies. The course highlights selected contemporary crises, examining causes and consequences of these emergencies. Examples include Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chechnya, Indonesia, Haiti and Colombia. A particular focus is the role of humanitarian issues in foreign policy and international relations.
Spring 2018
ARST-533: Refugees: Middle East and North Africa
Taught by Joseph Sassoon
The course will focus on the displacement, internal and external, of the people in the Middle East. Given the current events in the region, the course will zoom in on certain areas, in particular Syria, Iraq, and Sudan. By analyzing humanitarianism, human agency, and aid, the course is designed to encourage us to re-think how we conceive of displaced people within academic, development, and policy perspectives. We will address issues concerned with citizenship, borders, rights, law, human agency, and history, with the intent to include all of these into our perspectives on how we understand displaced people, talk about them, advocate for them, develop policies around them, and “manage” these crises of refugees in and outside the region
INAF-355: Global Child Migration
Taught by Father Richard Ryscavage, S.J.
Whether trying to cross the Mediterranean in rickety ships, or turning up on the US border, children are moving across borders. This course will look at both refugee and migrant children with a particular emphasis on those who enter another country unaccompanied by parents or other adults. The US policy of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) will be assessed as will the particular issue of children exploited by trafficking.
INAF-694: Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies: Research Seminar
Taught by Elizabeth Ferris
This ‘crisis of the week’ seminar will look in some depth at a range of humanitarian crises, including Syria and Iraq, Ebola and Myanmar, Ukraine and Yemen, analyzing the causes, responses and potential solutions for each. Questions around access to affected populations, including refugees, internally displaced persons, host communities and ‘trapped’ populations will be discussed.
INAF-696: Turkey, the EU and Migration
Taught by Kemal Kirisci of the Brookings Institution
Turkey and the European Union have had a long and difficult relationship and the issue of migration has been an especially thorny issue. In the summer of 2015 close to a million refugees and migrants arrived in Turkey, leading to a range of actions, including a ‘deal between the EU and Turkey to limit migrants. This course will examine the often tricky relationship between the EU and Turkey as well as the dramatic changes occurring in Turkey’s shift from being a country of origin for migrants to becoming a transit and destination country.
MSFS-548: Human Rights, Humanitarian Crises & Refugees: Ethical & Religious Responses
Taught by David Hollenbach, S.J.
Explores the requirements of human rights in face of contemporary humanitarian crises and the forced migration that results from such crises. Cases will be examined from both practical and theoretical perspectives.Ethical, human rights based- perspectives that can guide response to humanitarian crisis and the plight of refugees by political and civil communities today will be considered throughout the course.
Fall 2017
INAF-355: Immigrants, Refugees & State
Taught by Elizabeth Ferris
This course examines the causes and consequences of forced migration, focusing in particular on displacement from conflict and human rights violations. It begins with the history of the concept of ‘refuge’ and then traces the evolution of the international regime for protecting and assisting refugees and displaced persons. The course then focuses on current examples of displacement in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Europe.
INAF-376: Global Child Migration
Taught by Father Richard Ryscavage, S.J.
This course is a comprehensive look at the mobility of children around the world, the causes and effects from sociological, economic, social psychological and legal perspectives. We will study refugee children as well as children seeking asylum and children who are migrating for economic reasons. Special consideration will be given to minors who enter another country unaccompanied by parents or adults as well as children accompanied by undocumented migrant parents who enter a country without authorization. The USA policy of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) will be assessed. The exploitation of children through sexual and labor trafficking and the dangers of cross border smuggling will be analyzed. Students will gain a sophisticated understanding of the complex phenomenon of children on the move.
INAF-698: Introduction to Humanitarian Crisis
Taught by Jennifer Wistrand and Jessica Anderson
This course provides an overview of major principles, theories, operational concerns, and public policy issues related to complex humanitarian emergencies. The course highlights selected contemporary crises, examining causes and consequences of these emergencies. Examples include Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chechnya, Indonesia, Haiti and Colombia. A particular focus is the role of humanitarian issues in foreign policy and international relations.
STIA-365: Global Health & Humanitarianism
Taught by Elżbieta M. Goździak
This course explores the intersection of global health and humanitarian practice. It will offer an in-depth analysis of the particular challenges inherent in humanitarian assistance and equip students with practical skills needed to understand, organize, and evaluate humanitarian assistance aimed at responding to public health concerns, responding to particular diseases, and mitigating the effects of natural disasters, wars, and conflicts on displaced populations. Topics include rapid assessment, surveillance, and camp management as well as major health challenges including infectious diseases, nutrition, water and sanitation, and vaccinations in the context of humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. Students will also study qualitative research methodologies particularly suitable to applied settings in complex emergencies and post-conflict situations, including program evaluation, needs assessment, and community-based participatory research. Throughout the course, students will practice the art of writing briefing notes and talking points for decision-makers and proposals for funding. And last but not least, students will consider ethical and operational approaches to relations with the military in humanitarian settings. The course draws on a broad range of literature from global health, development studies, anthropology, and other social sciences. The course is designed for students pursuing careers in: anthropology, sociology, public health, nursing, migration studies, humanitarian assistance, international development, and public policy. The course includes a combination of lectures, class discussions, case studies, and student-led projects.
Spring 2017
INAF-355: Immigrants, Refugees & State
Taught by Katharine Donato
This course examines the causes and consequences of forced migration, focusing in particular on displacement from conflict and human rights violations. It begins with the history of the concept of ‘refuge’ and then traces the evolution of the international regime for protecting and assisting refugees and displaced persons. The course then focuses on current examples of displacement in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Europe.
INAF-648: International Migration and Development
Taught by Katharine Donato
This seminar is intended for students interested in preparing a research paper on a topic related to international migration. The course will focus on trends in international migration, including future economic, social, demographic, political, and other factors that will influence population movements; the elements of a normative and legal framework on which coherent migration policies could be based; the relationship between international migration and such issues as economic development, economic growth and competitiveness, poverty alleviation, trade, national and international security, social support systems, human rights, transnational organized crime, and public health; and institutional arrangements that will enhance international cooperation to promote safe and orderly migration.