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Master specialisation: Globalisation, Migration and Development

 

Description

In this specialisation you will study aspects of globalisation and socio-economic and spatial development for different parts of the world, although the emphasis is on the Global South. Social and spatial inequalities, processes of social exclusion, emancipation of social groups, immigration and multi-cultural society are the core issues in this master specialisation. Urban contexts both in Western- and developing countries, as well as problems of international migration, livelihood strategies and development policies in different regions have our special attention.

Career Prospects

Our graduates are employed in a wide range of jobs in- and outside The Netherlands. To give some insight in the scope of the work they do we have categorized this as follows, adding that this list is not exhaustive:

1. Working for the Dutch government at local, regional, national and international levels regarding development issues such as poverty, livelihoods, social exclusion and empowerment:

  • Policy expert / programme researcher for a municipality, focusing on spatial, social and economic dimensions to integration and multi-cultural phenomena;
  • Policy development at national or provincial levels within The Netherlands (e.g. the Provincial Government of Gelderland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs);
  • Programme officer with NUFFIC on the internationalization of research and education

2. Working as an NGO practitioner in various fields relating to development cooperation:

  • Field officer for a Fair Trade organisation, visiting countries in the Global South to establish business contracts with local farmer organisations;
  • Employee of a COS (Association of Centres for international cooperation, provincial level)
  • Research officer for the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (www.cbi.nl) to promote and facilitate access of products from developing countries to the European market.
  • Consultant for agencies working with remittances or micro-credit developments (in The Netherlands: IntEnt, Catalyst Microcredit Investors)
  • Programme officer with a Dutch or international development aid organisations (e.g. Cordaid, VSO, SNV, ICCO, Novib/Oxfam, Hivos

3. Pursuing an academic career (research/education) with one of many research institutes focusing on migration, globalisation, integration or development issues in The Netherlands and abroad:

  • Conducting innovative PhD research on migration, urbanisation, etc. (see www.nwo.nl for an overview of themes and topics of past research projects)
  • Working for a research institute/organisation involved with migration and globalisation: e.g. MPI, IOM, the Refugee Studies Centre.

Programme

 

Semester 4.1

Semester 4.2

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

Our Common Ground: Human geographic research colloquium (6 EC)
Globalising Cities (6 EC)  
International Migration and Development (6 EC)  
Elective course (6 EC) Elective course (6 EC)
Preparing the Master Thesis (6 EC) Master Thesis (24 EC)

 

Course descriptions

Our Common Ground: Human geographic research colloquium

This course is a commons course for all Human Geography master students. This course has the form of a seminar or colloquium, in which students can partly co-determine the research issues it will deal with. This course focuses current debates in our discipline and how they are related to our own research. It also provides the opportunity to inform fellow students about the progress in your research and ask them advise. A mix of different activities will be employed in this course, such as jointly discussing selected articles from the latest issues of the 'top'-journals in our field, present and discuss research proposals and the intermediary results of our research, invite professional experts who are relevant for our research for contributing to the colloquium. As far as feasible also the activities developed in the framework of the renomated Alexander von Humboldt Lecture series in Human Geography will be part of this course. Students will report on the different activities in this course, from the perspective of their own research.. In this way students will be actively involved in the real research. Students will learn to independently critically reflect on and relate to the developments in the scientific community of our discipline and will gather highly topical knowledge about latest developments in our field.

Globalising Cities and Hinterlands

Globalisation has a great impact on the physical structure and social-economic fabric of cities all over the world. More than ever, the world's urban population is living in large cities (with one million inhabitants or more) or so-called mega-cities (with a population of ten million or more). At the same time, the changing functions of cities within a world system call for our attention. New means of communication transport and logistics are transforming cities and connecting them with one another under conditions of post-industrial capitalist development in a global system. This is why the term globalising cities is used in this course, as distinct from global or world cities (as coined by Sassed and Friedman). Approaching globalizing cities from the perspective of development geography means that much attention will be paid to socio-economic inequalities in cities, in both the North and in the South.

In a different manner globalization also impacts local structures and processes in rural regions, resulting in adaptations of, or new, social, economic and political structures which often traverse the geographical boundaries of local villages and regions. With regard to urban issues development geography focuses on the position of marginal groups in society and their opportunities for emancipation. However these same concepts can also be applied to rural contexts given the rising inequalities between, and within, rural regions. Hence in this course special attention will be paid to processes of social exclusion, coping strategies and participatory policies which could lead to more equality. Thereby special attention will also be given to the role of the informal sector in low income countries.

 

International Migration, Globalisation and Development

Migration, as one component of globalisation, is increasingly becoming recognized as being of important influence on local, national and global economies. Recent attention on the scope of remittances sent by migrants to their countries of origin has resulted in much interest from politicians, IGOs and NGOs for the potential this may hold for local developments. At the same time migration is also looked upon as problematic, notably in countries that are largely recipients of migrants. The EU, but also the United States of America, is taking increasingly firm steps to try and reduce the flow of migrants into their territory. Yet, does this stance make any sense from a social, but also economic point of view? Also: does it work? Understanding, and situating, migration within larger globalisation processes, including their developmental impact, forms the main focus of this course. This course explores the role of South-North migration for development, not only in the global South but also the North. It does this by taking as its starting points (1) neo-liberal globalisation and (2) development processes in the South.

We begin this course with an analysis of the seminal work of Manuel Castells on the network society. His theories seek to explain the impact of globalization on communication, activities and social organisation due to changing perceptions of time and the organisation of space. From there we go on to discuss the role of the 'Washington consensus' and the impact of existing power structures at the global level for explaining the relationship between the global North and South. In this discussion we pay special attention to World Bank critic Joseph Stiglitz and his seminal book Making Globalisation Work. After analysing the general situation and structural components of international migration, we look at ways in which international migration takes place, considering purpose, format and the role of human agency through various empirical case studies. Thus we focus on the impact of remittances at individual and collective levels, the role of knowledge transfers, and on the consequences of return migration on economic development and citizenship in countries of origin.

In this course students will be given the opportunity to apply theories on globalization, migration and development to case study countries as part of group assignments. Ultimately, this will culminate in a coherent paper that brings together different dimensions.

Preparing the Master Thesis

This course is aims to teach you how to structurally develop and reflect upon your research design and the methods used for data collection and analysis. After completing this course, you will have completed your research proposal for the master thesis, including a detailed project planning. By doing this you will be able to make a 'flying start' with your actual master thesis project. In this course you will further develop your skills in preparing and elaborating a research proposal. The final goal is to prepare a concrete written research proposal in the format of a research proposal for the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). This will be evaluated by the thesis supervisor and if possible also by an (external) 'expert'. You will be assigned a thesis supervisor as soon as possible to provide feedback on drafts versions of the proposal and related exercises building up to the proposal. Furthermore you will be expected to also use the expertise gathered during your study to discuss, evaluate and criticise methodological aspects of the proposals of your fellow students. To stimulate this process we will deal explicitly with ways to set up a bibliography, an expert network (consisting of scholars but also practitioners and policymakers concerned with themes of relevance to the topic of the master thesis. Before starting the actual research for your master thesis the proposal has to be graded by your supervisor as sufficient. An important focus therein will be on the degree to which translation of research questions into a concrete research design and empirical methods has been achieved.

Master Thesis (including Research Apprenticeship)

Objectives

After completing your master thesis you:

  • will have proven to be able to independently set up and conduct a scientific research project in the field of  socio-spatial research;
  • will have explored the professional practice of socio-spatial research and will have shown to be able to position yourself in the professional world. This implies that you:
  • have gathered insights in the organisation and  management of the apprenticeship organisation;
  • can formulate the research problem in such a way that it is highly relevant for professional field;
  • applied your academic geographical knowledge to a concrete working situation;
  • will have learned how to translate a practical problem into a feasible theory led empirical research project;
  • will be able to present the results of scientific research in a praxis relevant way.

Description

On the basis of your approved research proposal you start your master thesis research at the organisation of your choice where you do your research apprenticeship. You will be supervised by both a supervisor in the apprenticeship organisation and by your master thesis supervisor at the university. Since this is the 'proof of the pudding' you will be expected to conduct your research independently. Your supervisors will of course provide the necessary support you as advisors and coaches, but you will have to direct your research work yourself, and take the first initiative. You are also responsible for the time management of the research and of your research apprenticeship. Our experience shows that such a master thesis research project will take at least six months, although not always full time. Your master thesis research should be a scientific theory led empirical research project taking a practical socio-spatial problem as the starting point. Ultimately your research efforts should result in a complete and innovative academic report: the master thesis.

Examples of elective courses

  • Sustainable Development in Latin America: Macro policies and micro responses (CEDLA)
  • The Political Economy of Petro-States: Venezuela in a Comparative Context (CEDLA)
  • Natural Resources and Environmental Management in Latin America (CEDLA)
  • Politics, Culture and Networks: Social Capital in Latin America (CEDLA)
  • Filosofie in verband met de ontmoeting der culturen (RU)
  • European Union and Developing Countries (KU Leuven)
  • Institutional Perspectives on Societal Change and Spatial Dynamics (Spatial Planning)
  • Comparative Analysis of Economic Systems (RU)
  • Global Shift: International Political Economy (RU)
  • Transnationale Ondernemingen (University of Utrecht, only in Dutch)
  • Current Issues in Development Studies (CAOS, RU)
  • New Frontiers in Development Studies (CAOS, RU)

Contact

For more information please contact the study advisor: MSc. Jackie van de Walle (j.vandewalle@fm.ru.nl), Room TvA 3.1_38, telephone: +31-(0)24 - 361 60 49.

You can also download a flyer on this master specialisation.