Power & Imagination: Winter term project : Analyzing the Push-Pull of Migration

Due: Tues., Jan. 26

As I sit down to write this, the news media is dominated by political debates around U.S. immigrant reform, and global
controversy surrounding the ethics of accepting or turning away refugees from war-torn countries such as Syria. There are
economic refugees being refused settlement in wealthier countries and embraced by others. Turning to history, I think
of many migrations that have both shaped and challenged the debates we are having today. For all of these, there are
factors that push migrants from their homes, and pull them towards the hope of a better life elsewhere. Studying
these historical or contemporary migrations can reveal intersections of power, and its my hope that in deepening our
understanding of them, we may be able to thoughtfully examine the ethical implications of beliefs and actions (ours and
others) surrounding these issues, so we ultimately may be better-informed citizens, using our power to construct the
world we live in. (But more on that latter aspect spring term!)
For this project, well focus on the dynamics creating these migrations. To do this, you will break into teams in mentor
session to research the push-pull factors underlying one of the migrations below. Your team will share your research
and your thesis about the power dynamics they reveal in both a short written paper and an 8-minute presentation.
Guiding research question: What are the power factors that push groups to migrate from their home and risk life in a
new country, and what are the pull factors that attract migrants to a host country?

Contemporary (20th & 21st cent) U.S.

Vietnam (cold war era)
Syria
Mexico
Cuba

Historical U.S.
Irish migration (famine era)
Great Southern migration
Chinese (19th century)

International
Roma
Turkish
Russian-speaking
Pentecostal

Your final project should include the following:

1. Concise, relevant historical context
2. Relevant demographic information
3. Exploration of the following questions:
a. Was the migration caused primarily by political turmoil, economic turmoil, or cultural turmoil (e.g. religion,
gender, ethnic)?
b. What was the economic status of the migratory group before? What is their economic status after their
migration in the host country? (Apply also to political and cultural?)
c. Has this group assimilated to the dominant society, or have they preserved their culture?
d. What cultural myths does the host country use to explain or view the migration? For example, is there any
mythology about immigration and/or racial/cultural pride and history in the country receiving the immigrants?
How is immigration treated and experienced differently in such different situations?
e. Which forms of power may help you answer the projects guiding question? (E.g. Russell, Galbraith)
4. Your team should create a thesis answering the research question, stating the conclusions youve reached through
your analysis of your findings.
5. Your paper and presentation should include a works cited.
Your research should include:
Peer-reviewed scholarly research (including at least two articles located through a library database.)
News media (current if a contemporary event; otherwise use historical news copy)
Maps & Visuals (If using PowerPoint, Prezi, etc., limit text to only 10 words per slide.)
You may also include interviews
You may include Wikipedia, but you must follow up on references
Assessment: Your team will be assessed as a whole on the paper and presentation. I will also be evaluating your
individual team process. Youll help draft rubrics for these components in the next week.