Migration is a key-issue in the institutional agenda of contemporary liberal-democracies. The aim of the course is to provide an advanced understanding of the relevant themes and questions related to migration: the course will focus on the main policy guidelines adopted by EU Member States since the beginning of the Nineties; as well as on the political struggles behind the decision making processes. The research questions that will be addressed are the following: 1) how different States “shape” the problem of migration? 2) which are the main consequences of migration in terms of intra and inter-State politics and policies? 3) does migration need to be studied through new concepts and approaches? Particular attention will be devoted to the multi-level settings that characterize migration policies and to the dynamics of the relations between actors operating at different territorial levels. Drawing on theories and methods of policy studies and administrative science, the course will provide students with a tool-box oriented to the analysis and planning of interventions in the migration domain. At the same time, the course will focus on the political dynamics that characterize the public debate on migration issues: in this respect, the course will also provide students with useful concepts for the comparative study of political and party systems.

• Class participation – 20%

Students are expected to attend all the lectures seminars and participate in class discussions.

• In-class test – 60%

Students will be asked to answer to a multiple-choice test during the semester. Date of test class is defined by the Lecturer and communicated to the students during the first class of the course.

• In-class issue presentation – 20%.

Such a presentation (up to 15 minutes) is performed by each student once in the term. The presentation will be based on suggested readings and discussion topics. The presenter should briefly introduce the argument, by showing capacities to offer a critical interpretation of the readings, and registering agreements and disagreements. The presenter should also attempt to consider how the given argument could be framed differently. A number of critical questions should further be offered for the class to discuss collectively.

By the end of this course students should be able to:

• apply terminology, theories, and concepts of Policy Sciences and Comparative politics to current events and specific cases;

• identify and compare the main guidelines adopted by European governments and the subsequent policy outcomes in the field;

• assess similarities and differences in policy planning, implementation and evaluation in the field;

• critically interpret domestic and international political events;

• assess structural, cultural and institutional factors determining political outcomes;

A practical demonstration of how to find both secondary and primary sources will be organizaed during the course;

Students will be able to analyse critically problems related to migration policy making, framed as a complex network of actors, processes, events;

Following the course, students will be asked to present a brief relation concerning the addressed topics;