ANTH 331: Refugees

ANTH 331-001: Refugees in a Contemporary World
(Fall 2022)

01:30 PM to 02:45 PM TR

Horizon Hall 3008

Section Information for Fall 2022

The refugee crisis today is the largest displacement of people since World War II. As of 2018, more than 60 million people across the globe have been displaced by war, armed conflict, state violence, and environmental destruction. In this course, we will examine political, cultural, and everyday implications of displacement, forced migration, confinement, and living in camps. Students will become familiar with core theories and concepts on topics such as statelessness, humanitarian aid, exile, human trafficking, and diaspora. We will discuss what individual and collective experiences tell us about humanitarianism, nationalism, citizenship, belonging, identity, and exclusion. We will consider how political and legal definitions of refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, and illegal aliens influence the lived experience of humans across the globe. While the primary geographic focus of the course will be the Middle East and North Africa, we will read case studies from other regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Europe. In addition to discussing scholarly texts, we will host guest speakers, read novels, explore online and news media sources, and watch movies and documentaries that grant further understanding of the refugee experience. Field trips to local refugee organizations will give students an opportunity for experiential learning. This course satisfies the Mason Core requirement for Global Understanding.

Tags:

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Introduction to causes and consequences of forced dislocation as a global issue. Covers formally recognized refugees, as well as people such as internally displaced persons and asylum seekers who are in refugee-like circumstances. Focuses on understanding the personal experiences of refugees and examining efforts on their behalf at national and international levels. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Global Understanding
Recommended Prerequisite: ANTH 114, 60 credits, or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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