GANT
6219

Climate Crisis, Cities and Migration

New School for Social Research: Anthropology

ClimateCrisis,Cities,Migration
Spring 2020
Taught By: T. Alexander Aleinikoff and Achilles Kallergis
Section: A

Course Reference Number: 7746

Credits: 3

Climate change and urbanization constitute parallel global transformations that characterize current and future migration patterns of the Anthropocene era. These intertwined processes will continue to shape human mobility flows towards cities. Future projections highlight that the poorest and most vulnerable urban areas constitute the climate in- and out-migration hotspots that will experience the most profound population changes. The objective of the course is to offer a global perspective on the phenomenon of climate-induced migration to cities, and its effect on human mobility and urbanization patterns. The course will review research at the intersection of environmental, migration and urban studies. It will discuss the role of cities as spaces of interaction between society and the environment. The course will also discuss formal and informal urban governance systems that respond to climate-related challenges and contribute to accommodating and integrating climate migrants. Particular focus will be given on the experiences of environmental marginality attributed of climate migrants and the responses occurring through informal livelihood strategies. The main deliverable for the course will be a case study exploring and analyzing particular aspects of human mobility and climate-induced migration in a city chosen by each student. The student case studies will be compiled in an online publication that highlights the diversity of challenges and responses to climate-induced migration into cities.

College: New School for Social Research (GF)

Department: Anthropology (GANT)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Max Enrollment: 18