Reference no: EM133427341

Assignment:

This essay asks you to connect an issue in migration to real-life, political advocacy work being done in that area. While we spend a lot of time in this course discussing complex problems in migration, it is also important to see the concrete ways in which organizations are working to better the lives of migrants.

For this essay, you will select one topic to research in-depth, drawing on at least 5 scholarly sources (can be course readings or not). The essay has two parts:

1. Choose an issue in the sociology of migration to research. You must take a stance on the issue to argue in the paper. Here are some prompts to get you thinking about what stance you will take in this paper (you don't have to answer all of them, they are meant to spark thought): Can I connect a theoretical perspective to this issue? Can I connect any course concepts to this issue? Are there multiple "sides" to this issue, and which side do I fall on?
2. Profile an organization that is working on creating change in this area. This can be a non-profit organization, a religious group, an informal network or collective, or another type of organization, working locally, nationally, or internationally. The issue and organization don't have to be based in Canada, but should have information available in English. In this section, you should answer: What is this organization? What is its purpose? How is the organization addressing the issues you raised in the first part of the paper?

You must have a clear thesis statement that shows your stance on the issue. For example, you could choose to research the Safe Third Country Agreement's history and its impact on refugees in Canada. Then, you could profile the work done by the Canadian Council for Refugees on bringing lawsuits against the federal government in an effort to end the STCA. Your argument could look like this: "I argue that the Safe Third Country Agreement reflects Walia's (2013) framework of border imperialism by fortifying the border against displaced people. The Canadian Council of Refugees is working to undo border imperialism by advocating for the rescinding of the STCA."

Some of the required readings and articles covered in the lectures are good examples of how to sociologically examine the political or activist work being done by organizations: Walia (2013) on No One Is Illegal, Chun et al (2013) on Asian Immigrant Women Advocates, Basok (2004) on the migrant support groups in Leamington, and Elcioglu (2020) on pro- and anti-migrant organizing at the US-Mexico border. Read through these books/articles for inspiration!