IR 424: Citizenship and Migration in International Politics:Immigration in Spain (4 units) (Section 37934 D)
Valencia (Spain), June 18- July 16, 2016
Valencia Instructor: Dr. Núria Franco Guillén
Valencia Coordinator: Dr. Patricia Bou
USC Instructor: Dr. Marianna Chodorowska-Pilch
Office hours: M through TH 1:30 – 2 PM
Course description:
This course offered in the city of Valencia (Spain) aims to increase students’ knowledge of the history and current challenges of immigration in Spain. Political, legal,demographic, and social shifts toward immigrants will be tackled, using current documentation and multiple resources. In addition, visits to refugee centers and immigration communities will provide a direct experience on various aspects of immigration in Spain in the context of the European Union.
Schedule:
Monday through Thursday
1) T, W, Th 9-10 AM Workshop: Understanding the Spanish culture and traditions
2) M- Th 10:15 – 11:30 AM & 12 – 1:30 PM
3) M- Th, 4-6 PM (scheduled visits to ONGs, workshops, or individual work (TBA)
Fridays: fieldtrips/excursions or free time (TBA)
Course objectives:
This course intends to deal with the phenomenon of immigration in Spain from different perspectives. Special attention will be paid to the socio-political aspect of the influx of new citizens just after the fall of the dictatorship and the economic develpment, which came with the democratic transition in Spain. Thus, a historical overview, geographic location, and the Spanish culture will be presented to help understand immigration as a process in its many aspects.
Furthermore, the economic impact caused by immigration will be analyzed in a country that ages very quickly and needs immigrants to maintain the social status quo of pensions.
In addition, the legal evolution will be tackled; new immigration laws, immigrants’ rights and responsibilities, becoming citizens, and other related issues.
Compulsory readings:
20/06/2016Colomer, J. M. (1998) The Spanish ‘state of autonomies’: Non‐institutional federalism, West European Politics, 21:4, 40-52, DOI:
10.1080/01402389808425270
22/06/2016Wilcox, S. (2009), The Open Borders Debate on Immigration. Philosophy Compass, 4: 813–821. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2009.00230.x
23/06/2016Arango, J. (2000) "Becoming a Country of Immigration at the End of the Twentieth Century: the Case of Spain." In: Russell King, Gabriella Lazaridis, Charalambos Tsardanidis (eds.), Eldorado or Fortress? Migration in Southern Europe. pp 253-276
27/06/2016 Del Rey Poveda, A. & E. Parrado (2012). “The fertility of immigrant women: family dynamics, migration, and timing of childbearing”. Paper presented at the PAA Annual Meeting, Population Association of America, San Franciso, CA, US, 3-5 May.
28/06/2016Corkill, D (2001) Economic migrants and the labour market in Spain andPortugal, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 24:5, 828-844, DOI: 10.1080/01419870020063990"
29/06/2016Beets, G., & Willekens, F.. (2009). The global economic crisis and international migration: An uncertain outlook. Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, 7, 19–37. Retrieved from
30/06/2016Borjas, J. (1993) "Immigration Policy, National Origin, and Immigrant Skills: A Comparison of Canada and the United States." in: D. Card and G. Freeman: Small Differences That Matter: Labor Markets and Income Maintenance in Canada and the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
05/07/2016Zapata-Barrero, Ricard(2010) 'Managing Diversity in Spanish Society: A Practical Approach', Journal of Intercultural Studies, 31: 4, 383 — 402
06/07/2016Kymlicka, W. (2001) "Minority nationalism and immigrant integration" in: Politics in the Vernacular. Oxford: Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/0199240981.001.0001 available at:
07/07/2016Rodon, T. and Franco-Guillén N. (2014) "Contact with Immigrants in Times of Crisis: An Exploration of the Catalan Case" Ethnicities 14(5): 650-675
11/07/2016Alonso Belmonte, I., A. McCabe, and D. Chornet-Roses (2010)"In their own words: The construction of the image of the immigrant in Peninsular Spanish broadsheets and freesheets" Discourse & Communication August 2010 4: 227-242, doi:10.1177/1750481310373218
12/07/2016Mudde, C. (2015) "Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe Today" in: John Abromeit, Bridget María Chesterton, Gary Marotta and York Norman (eds.) Transformations of Populism in Europe and the Americas: History and Recent Trends p. 295 - 307. London: Bloomsbury. Available at:
Suggested readings
Abarca Junco, A. et al. (2015): El extranjero en el Derecho español, Madrid, Dykinson.
Alonso –Borrego, C. A. et al. (2011): “Does Immigration Cause Crime? Evidence from Spain.” Departmento de Economía. Universidad Carlos III, Working Papers 11-08.
Arango, Joaquín. (2013):Exceptional in Europe? Spain’s Experience with Immigration and Integration, Washington, DC, Migration Policy Institute.
Bertossie, C. (2007): Integration of Immigrant Communities in Europe: A Euro-Mediterranean Challenge?, European Institute of the Mediterranean(IEMed), Barcelona.
De Lucas Martín, J. (2015): Mediterráneo: el naufragio en Europa, Valencia, Tirant lo Blanch.
Hepburn, E. & Zapata-Barrero, R. eds. (2014) The politics of immigration in multi-level States: Governance and political parties. Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan.
Ortega Pérez, N. (2003): “Spain: Forging an Immigration Policy.” Migration Information Source. Washington, DC, Migration Policy Institute.
Payne, S. G. (2010): Spain: A Unique History. The University of Wisconsin Press.
Reig Fabado, I. (2014): Libertad de circulación, asilo y refugio en la Unión Europea.Valencia, Tirant lo Blanch.
Schatzer, P. (2008): Dying to Make it to (and in) Europe”: Managing Migration in a Mediterranean Context, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), Barcelona.
Scholte, J.A. (2000):Globalization. A critical introduction, Palgrave, Nueva York.
Zapata-Barrero, R. (2012) Diversity management in Spain: new dimensions, new challenges. Manchester: Manchester University Press
Grades based on:
a)Attendance and class participation20%
b)Short reports about visits 10%
c)Oral presentation (final project)20%
d)Final paper (8-10 pages)50%
Final paper
Students will be able to choose a topic from a list of assigned topics, or suggest one they are interested in researching. Once the topic is selected, students will propose an index and will meet with their instructor on how to develop it. The last Thursday of the course, students will submit a written copy of the paper and will present it in class.
Week 1 Geographical and historical aspects
- Contemporary history of Spain: from democratisation to the XXIst century
- Politics in Spain: contemporary issues
- Immigration theory: concept, causes and consequences
- Mapping immigration in Spain: aspects of the study of immigration
Week 2 Economic and legal aspects
- Fertility, population ageing and Welfare State.
- The labour market: Economic impact of immigration in Spain.
- Spanish economic crisis: socioeconomic consequences.
- Legal framework: Aliens, citizenship and distribution of competencies
Week 3 Immigration policies and politics in Spain
- The externalisation of immigration policies and borders
- Immigration policy in Spain: from access to integration
- Intergovernmental relations on immigrant integration
- Perceptions towards immigrants in Spain
Week 4: Spain as a receiving society
- Discourses on immigration: theories and mass media
- Party politics and the absence of extreme right
- Policy practices: Detentions, acommodations and living toghether.
- Last session: Paper presentations
Afternoon Lectures and Visits
7.1Lecture by a representative of Cáritas
7.2Visit to CEAR and a lecture (Centro de Ayuda al Refugiado)
7.3Visit to Centro Islámico
7.4Lecture by Prof. Lorenzo Gabrielli
7.5Lecture by a representative of CEAR (Jaume Durá)
7.6Visit and lecture by social workers at Centro de Sanidad
One-day and Weekend Trips
- Valencia- guided visit around the historical center
- Albufera
- Toledo
- Seville
- Sagunto
Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems
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Support Systems
A number of USC’s schools provide support for students who need help with scholarly writing. Check with your advisor or program staff to find out more. Students whose primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for international graduate students. The Office of Disability Services and Programs provides certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations. If an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency Information will provide safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technology.