ISS 230, "Government and the Individual"

Sec 002-Topic: Social Science Perspectives on Migration within,

and Immigration to, Post-World War II Europe.
Mondays/Wednesdays 4:10-6:00 p.m.
B119 Wells Hall
Professor Marcie Cowley (cowleyma@msu.edu)
Email Policy: Email should be used to notify me of an emergency (such as hospitalization) or an
excused absence that will prevent you from attending class. For course policy questions, please
consult the syllabus to verify your question is not answered in the syllabus. If your question is
not addressed in the syllabus, you may ask me after class in the classroom. For all questions
related to course content and study techniques, please speak with me after class or, preferably,
meet with me in office hours or schedule an appointment if you have a class conflict with office
hours.
Office Hours: Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and by appointment
Office Location: 5G Berkey (basement level)
Course Description:
World War II was a watershed moment in the demographic makeup of Europe, resulting
in several millions of dead, missing, injured and displaced persons. Since World War II, Europe
has become a continent of immigration, a development that has preoccupied European leaders
and civilians. From the guestworkers brought into West Germany to rebuild the country, to the
post-colonial migrations to the United Kingdom and France with decolonization, each European
country has addressed the issue of immigration and migrants differently. Some countries
promote multi-culturalism, while others insist on assimilation of immigrants. The cold war and
the development of the European Union have also played a role in migration on the continent.
The Schengen Agreement for member states abolishes borders within the European Union
(Ireland and the United Kingdom have opted out of Schengen). These states now face the issue
of whether to accept migrant refugees from outside the Schengen Zone based on humanitarian
concerns. During this summer alone (2015), thousands of migrants have died when overcrowded
ships run by human smugglers sank in the Mediterranean. Many more migrants have been
injured or killed trying to get to their destination country. "Europe's Migrant Crisis" has topped
the news for many days recently as more and more migrants die, yet many more thousands
continue to attempt the journey.
Why do people take the risk of undocumented migration? What are the major
immigration trends to Europe since World War II? How have different governments and civilian
populations responded to the demographic changes in Europe as it becomes a continent of visible
diversity of races and religions? This course will explore how contemporary Europe has evolved
since World War II. It will draw on selected moments and developments in related to migration
within, and immigration to, post World War II Europe. This course will look at case studies of
four main migrant destinations (the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy), as well as the
East-West migration stream that took place after the fall of Communist governments in Eastern
Europe. We will examine the Europe of today and whether it deserves the title of "Fortress
Europe." As an interdisciplinary course aimed at introducing students to the complex nature of
migration theories and trends, students will be exposed to a variety of news articles, scholarly

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books from various perspectives within the social sciences, and films/documentaries reflecting
multiple voices and perspectives.
Learning Goals:
This Integrative Studies course aims to assist students to become more familiar with ways
of knowing in the social sciences and to be more knowledgeable and capable in a range of
intellectual and expressive abilities. Also, in accordance with the Undergraduate Learning Goals
at MSU, this course will promote the development of analytical thinking, cultural understanding,
effective citizenship and communication, and integrated reasoning. In this course, students will
learn more about the history and cultures of other societies, and of ways of critically analyzing
migration issues from various social science disciplinary perspectives. Migration as a topic
involves many interactions between governments and individuals, and is studied by journalists,
political scientists, historians, sociologists, psychologists, and politicians, to name just a few
disciplines and professions. This course will also focus on key ideas and issues in human
experience and expose us to important issues that occur among peoples in an increasingly
interconnected, interdependent world.
Expectations:
ATTENDANCE:
Attendance is expected and crucial to your success in this course. Please arrive on
time and stay for the entire class. You are responsible for anything covered in class.
This includes lecture materials and discussion. It also includes documentaries and films
which you will need to rent on your own and watch if you miss class. If you cannot
obtain documentaries/films through avenues such as the library, video stores, Netflix or
youtube, you will need to get detailed notes from a classmate. It is also your
responsibility to obtain notes for any missed classes from a classmate.
Powerpoints/lecture materials will NOT be posted online. Furthermore, you may NOT
photograph or record lecture materials.
Commercialized Lecture Notes: Commercialization of lecture notes and universityprovided course materials is not permitted in this course.
PARTICIPATION:
You are expected to participate actively when discussions are held in lectures. Please
show respect for the ideas and opinions of your classmates during discussions.
PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR:
It is your responsibility to not distract members of the class. What this means in concrete
terms includes:
Come to class on time and do not leave early (this includes not packing up before
the class is scheduled to end).
Turn off your cell phone and store it in your bag. (It should be obvious that you
should not be texting during class).
A note about laptops: Use of laptops is allowed only for note taking during class.
All laptops must be stored during documentaries and films because they are
distracting to other class members.

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Assessments:
Online Reading Quizzes: These must be completed on D2L between Wednesday at 12
p.m. and Friday at 12 p.m. of the weeks in which assigned. They will consist of 10
multiple choice questions based on your readings since the last quiz (including readings
for the week in which the quizzes are taken). You will be allowed 20 minutes to take the
quiz and may only enter the quiz once. Before you take the quiz, make sure you are
alone in a quiet space with a reliable internet connection and that you have allowed 20
minutes. Quizzes cannot be taken late or reset. There will be 6 reading quizzes and the
worst quiz will be dropped from this portion of your grade. Note: Make sure you have
done the readings BEFORE you enter the quiz. You will not have time to "find" the
answers while taking the quiz.
Examinations: The four examinations will consist of multiple choice questions based on
lecture and discussions in class. All students are required to take the examinations on the
date indicated in the syllabus. All students are required to take the final examination at
the date and time scheduled for this course, unless otherwise arranged by the Academic
Student Affairs Office in their college (NOT by a direct request to the instructor for this
course). Students unable to take a final examination because of illness or other reason
over which they have no control should notify the associate deans of their colleges
immediately.
In addition, failure to take the final exam will result in a 0.0 FINAL COURSE GRADE
for failure to complete the course.
Note: MSU's final examination policy is located at:
http://www.reg.msu.edu/roinfo/calendar/FinalExam.asp
Among other things it provides that a regularly scheduled exam takes precedence over a
common examination and that students who have more than two examinations in one
day, "may take their class schedules to the Academic Student Affairs Office in their
colleges for assistance in arranging for an alternate time for one of the three
examinations."
Do not be late for an exam. If you are late, you will not be allowed any extra time in
which to take the exam. If you arrive more than thirty (30) minutes after the start of the
exam period, you will NOT be allowed to take the exam. If you have an unavoidable
documented emergency (such as hospitalization) the day of the first three exams, notify
me as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 24 hours after the exam (see above
for who to notify in case of a missed final examination).
Grading:
30%
10%
20%
20%
20%

Reading Quizzes (5 worth 6 percent each after worst quiz grade is dropped)
Exam 1 (20 questions taken during PART of the class period indicated below)
Exam 2 (40 questions)
Exam 3 (40 questions)
Final Examination (40 questions)

You will receive a percentage grade for each of the above. Your overall final percentage will be
reflected on D2L as grades are entered during the progress of the course. Note that some grades
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will necessarily be entered at the end of the course, including the last reading quiz and final
examination grade.
Your final percentage will be converted to a final grade as follows:
Final Percent:
Final Grade:
90-100
4.0
85-89.99
3.5
80-84.99
3.0
75-79.99
2.5
70-74.99
2.0
65-69.99
1.5
60-64.99
1.0
Below 59.99 0.0

Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade for the quiz/exam or the entire
course. In addition, an academic dishonesty report will be filed.
For information on academic honesty and integrity, see:
https://www.msu.edu/~ombud/academic-integrity/What%20is%20Academic%20Integrity.html
and
https://www.msu.edu/~ombud/academic-integrity/index.html.
Required Readings:
1.
Rita Chin, The Guestworker Question in Postwar Germany
2.
Alec Hargreaves, Multi-Ethnic France: Immigration, Politics, Culture and Society. 2nd
Edition
3.
Christina Boswell and Andrew Geddes, Migration and Mobility in the European Union
4.
Matthew Carr, Fortress Europe: Dispatches from a Gated Continent
5.
Other reading materials can be accessed online on D2L in the weekly modules. These
will be available by the end of Friday of the week before they are assigned.
Films and documentaries:
Films/documentaries may be used to illustrate how the themes of the course are
represented visually, and to contextualize the issues in your readings and lectures.
Films/documentaries are contingent on the availability of time. Priority is given to the lectures.
Discussion questions for films may be posted to D2L before we watch them (in which case, I
will send the class an email to alert you that the questions are on D2L). You are responsible for
all films/documentaries viewed in class, and questions concerning these will be on the exams.
Course Schedule: The weekly topics are based on estimated course progress. If we finish a
topic early, we will move on to the next topic. Likewise, some topics may carry over into
the following week. All readings must be completed BEFORE the first class of the week in
which assigned unless otherwise noted below. I reserve the right to make minor changes to
this schedule and readings with an announcement in class.
______________________________________________________________________________
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Week 1-September 2
Introduction
Review course requirements and syllabus
Europe's Immigration Crisis
Week 2-September 9 (no class September 7-Labor Day)
Europe's Immigration Crisis continued
Migration theory; Overview of migration trends in the first half of 20th century Europe
Readings:
1.
Online articles on D2L
Week 3-September 14/16
Migration theory; overview of migration trends in the first half of 20th century Europe
continued
Overview of migration trends in post-war Europe
Readings:
1.
Online articles on D2L
D2L Reading Quiz 1
Week 4-September 21/23
Exam 1 September 21
Case study: the United Kingdom
Readings:
1.
Online articles on D2L (you can read these after the exam)
2.
Begin Chin
Note per the academic calendar on the registrar's website: 9/28/15 End of tuition refund
period for fall semester courses --no refund after this date
Week 5-September 28/30
Case study: finish the United Kingdom and begin (West) Germany
Readings:
1.
Chin through Chapter 2 (through page 140)
Week 6-October 5/7
Case study: Germany
Readings:
1.
Finish Chin
D2L Reading Quiz 2
Week 7-October 12/14
Exam 2 October 12
Case Study: Italy
Readings:
1.
Online articles on D2L (you can read these after the exam)

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Week 8-October 19/21

Case Study: Italy continued
Note per the academic calendar on the registrar's website: 10/21/15 Middle of Semester;
8 p.m. deadline to drop full-semester courses for the fall semester with no grade
reported
Readings:
1.
Hargreaves through Chapter 2 (through page 74)
Week 9-October 26/28
Case Study: France
Readings:
1.
Hargreaves through Chapter 3 (through page 139)
D2L Reading Quiz 3
Week 10-November 2/4
Case Study: France continued
Readings:
1.
Finish Hargreaves
Week 11-November 9/11
Exam 3 November 9
EU development, Schengen, and post 1989 East-West migration
Readings:
1.
Boswell and Geddes through Chapter 3 (through page 75)
Week 12-November 16/18
Continue EU development, Schengen, and post 1989 East-West migration

1.
Boswell and Geddes through Chapter 6 (through page 149)
D2L Reading Quiz 4
Week 13-November 23/25
Continue EU development, Schengen, and post 1989 East-West migration
Readings:
1.
Finish Boswell and Geddes
Week 14-November 30/December 2
Europe today: Fortress Europe?
Readings:
1.
Carr Part 1 (through page 143)
D2L Reading Quiz 5
Week 15-December 7/9
The New Europe and new Globalization
Readings:
1.
Finish Carr
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D2L Reading Quiz 6

Final Examination:
Thursday, December 17, 5:45-7:45 p.m., B119 Wells Hall

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