Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE IMS5028

 
TITLE Demographic Movements

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Institute of Maltese Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit, tailor made for the Master in Maltese studies, will cover the whole gamut of population movement from and to Malta over the centuries until contemporary times. The first part will account for the outward movement of people situating this in social, economic, governmental, political or international settings, delineating provenance, occupation, health, and travel documentation. In the second part, the study-unit will look at migrant settlement in the various countries where Maltese communities formed, discussing questions of integration or repatriation, culture clash or assimilation, including language retention or loss, religion retention or loss, occupations, housing ties with the old country or otherwise, the ethnic press and media, difficulties, endeavours, achievements and expectations. In the context of population movement, the migrant settlement segment of this course will also look at refugee studies, including the phenomenon of illegal immigration and asylum seeking as Malta has experienced it during the 19th, 20th and 21st century; and integrated minorities such as the Maltese - Indian and the Maltese - Jewish communities.

Study-unit Aims

The study unit aims:

To show students what characterises migration in its various forms both outwards (emigration) and inwards (immigration); to relate to the difficulties and possibilities of adjustment in different social, cultural and economic environments; to appreciate the push and pull factors in demographic movements including the quest for asylum.

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- internalize theories and patterns of demographic shift involving single or multiple movement within and outside a country of origin;
- appreciate the challenges involved in permanent or temporary resettlement and repatriation, including livelihood and culture clash;
- empathize with loss and retention factors in aspects of nationality and livelihood quests, including recent and ongoing 'refugee' situations.

2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- discover the phenomenon of mass emigration, with special reference to the Maltese, especially over the past two centuries;
- identify from where, when, why and how such displacements occurred, and in which directions according to epochs;
- relate to coping with and overcoming hurdles in unfamiliar circumstances by integrating, assimilating or rejecting practices, norms and habits;
- relate to the experience of Maltese nationality outside of the natural habitat, and cultural matrix of the 'old' country in contact with other cultures, institutions and mentalities as well as to co-exist with alterity.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings

Reading lists will be offered by all lecturers. Publications, unless stated, are available at the University Library.

Main Texts

- Attard, L.: Early Maltese Emigration (1900-1914), (Gulf Publishing Ltd, Malta, 1983)
- Attard., L.: Beyond Our Shores, (PEG Malta, 2007)
- Attard Pirotta, C. & Stellini S. (Eds): Konvenzjoni Ghall Maltin li Jghixu Barra / Convention of Maltese Living Abroad, (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Valletta, 2010)
- Busuttil, G. & Pace, N. (Eds): Convention of Leaders of Associations of Maltese Abroad and of Maltese Origin: Proceedings and Report (UNDP, New York, M.F.A. Valletta, 2000)
- Castles, S.: The Age of Migration, (Palgrave, London, 2003)
- Cutajar, G.: Sthajjitni Malti ta' Gewwa Memorji ta' Tunez, (M.U.P, 2009)
- Frendo, H. (ed.): The European Mind: Narrative and Identity (M.U.P, 2010)
- Frendo, H.: Europe and Empire: Culture, Politics and Identity in Malta and the Mediterranean. (Midsea Books, Malta, 2012
- Massa, D. (ed.): Malta: Esplorazzjoni, (Malta University Publishers, Malta, 2001)
- Price, C.: Malta and the Maltese, (Georgian House, Melbourne, 1954)
- Xuereb P.G.: Migration and Asylum in Malta and the European Union: Rights and Realities, 2002 to 2011, (M.U.P, 2012 (forthcoming))

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Arnold Cassola
Charles Xuereb
Karsten Xuereb
Mario Xuereb (Co-ord.)

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit