Political science and international migration

International Migration and Ethnic Relations, bachelor's programme

Keenan Allen had many plans. Ending up in the IMER classroom was not one of them. Now, he wants to use his knowledge to be a social entrepreneur, an artist, a researcher, and much more.

A few years ago, Keenan was studying medicine in Tokyo. Today, he is working with refugee children in Malmö.

“When I started studying, I had my heart set on becoming a physician and spent years studying biology and medicine. I found myself overwhelmed and exhausted. I thought I could be more effective working with society rather than the human body.”

Studying at Malmö University

Originally from Chicago, Keenan moved to New Orleans just before hurricane Katrina hit and lead to widespread dislocation. By the time he moved to Sweden, he had seen the effects of migration and movement firsthand.

 “When I came here I felt that I was ready to finish a degree. I found out about this programme and thought it would serve me very well. It has given me the basis for understanding how and why people move. We study migration theories, citizenship and how these issues relate to identity.

“The programme also focuses on ethnic relations, which wasn’t the most appealing part of the programme for me at the start. However, as I'm working in the field, I am realising that the more globalised we become through technology, the more we need to connect in a physical way, face-to-face.”

Working with unaccompanied refugee children

Since finishing his studies at Malmö University, Keenan has been working at a residential care home for unaccompanied refugee children in Malmö.

“In the programme we get to study refugee and asylum law and processes, all of the things I deal with at work. When assisting these people, I understand how the law works and how the EU has designed its framework. The programme is very practical in that sense.”

Passport Carriers

Even before moving to Sweden, Keenan was working on a personal project exploring borders and closed spaces.

“I remember that when I got my passport, that was the first time I started thinking about national identity, and how passports are directly connected to certain kinds of access. I started a project in Chicago called Passport Carriers.”

“The project is about mobility and how to include people who are excluded from society. Now, when working with young people, I want to continue my project to inspire them. My ambition is to turn this into a research project in the future.”

“I see myself as a cultural activist or cultural entrepreneur involved in social business. It is hard to explain because I want to bounce around and not be in a fixed position. I want to be able to utilise my knowledge in collaboration with others. I really believe in people and people’s capacity to do great things.” 

International Migration and Ethnic Relations, two-year master's programme

After a family history of forced migration, Haneen Abdel Khaleq knew that she wanted to help others in similar situations. Having studied International Migration and Ethnic Relations at Malmö University, she now works with refugees as a protection officer in Lebanon.

From Kuwait to Malmö

Haneen and her family were living in Kuwait when the Gulf War erupted in 1990, forcing them to flee along with an exodus of other Palestinians. By the time she was ten, she had already moved from Syria to Jordan to Qatar, before finally settling in Australia.

As an adult, Haneen began working with Palestinian refugees in Jordan and knew that she had found her calling. Then, at the height of the ‘refugee crisis’ in Europe, she was offered a scholarship to study International Migration and Ethnic Relations at Malmö University.

Diversity in and outside of the classroom

“Being in Malmö, where a lot of refugees were arriving from places like Syria, I was able to see the effects of war on displacement and migration first hand, and could then go to class where we discussed this in an academic way.”

“Meeting other international students from places like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East enriched my experience as a master’s student. We could share our different experiences and opinions on the kind of things that were going on. That diversity was really valuable.”

Reflecting on her outlook, she says learning about things like the economy, migration flows and integration has allowed her to think more practically about ongoing injustices and how she can make a change.

“In the future, I would like to work to change migration policies. It might be a bit cliché, but the most important thing to me is to make some sort of difference, even if it’s in a small way.”

Identity and personal growth

As well as an important part of Haneen’s journey towards supporting others, the master’s programme has also helped her to come to terms with certain parts of her own life and identity.

“My studies helped me to understand that my identity doesn’t have to be so rigid,” she explains.

“Who I am doesn’t have to be based on being either Australian or Palestinian. I’ve lived in so many countries up until now and the more I learn and experience, the freer I feel to live and identify the way that I want.”

Political Science: Global Politics and Societal Change, one-year master's programme

Originally from the Netherlands, Elina Natobidze-Airiian moved to Sweden to study the master’s programme in political science. After graduating, she moved back to work for the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in the Netherlands. Today she lives in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Why did you choose the Political Science programme?

"After doing some online research, I came across Malmö University and this particular programme, which immediately caught my attention. I liked the fact that it is a multi-disciplinary programme that addresses aspects of international relations, human rights, and peace and conflict studies. As the world is more interconnected than ever before, I think it is important to understand how social, economic and political transformations affect local, national, European and global governance. Apart from that, political science graduates can work for a wide range of employers, such as the United Nations, the European Union, multinationals and NGOs."

What did you like most about the education?

"I really liked the fact that the programme has a good balance between lectures and seminars, unlike many other master’s programmes. In this way, students are encouraged to participate in group discussions and ask the teacher questions. In addition, I appreciated the informal nature of Swedish society where students are free to think creatively and choose how to approach an assignment. I liked that the examination largely relied on doing your own research and academic writing rather than sit-in exams. There was also less emphasis on grades, which made studying less stressful and more enjoyable."

Why did you choose to study a master’s programme?

"After completing my bachelor’s programme I worked full-time for approximately a year. This break from studying gave me an opportunity to reflect on my goals. I realised that I really wanted to invest in my future and pursue my interests in more depth. Also, I believe that having extra qualifications will make you stand out in the job market. Furthermore, it is a great way to build your network and to connect with like-minded people.

"In my opinion, the importance of studying at master’s level depends primarily on your career ambitions and your interests. A master's in Political Science is more an in-depth study of the broader topics that are covered in a bachelor’s programme. Personally, I found it very interesting to pursue politics at a more advanced level. In addition, a master's in political science has definitely improved my research and writing skills, which are required in many job positions."

What was your impression of Malmö and Sweden?

"When I first arrived in Malmö, I felt at home right away. The flat landscape, the green areas and the many cycle routes felt pleasantly familiar to my hometown in the Netherlands. Apart from that, Malmö is a very diverse and international city and you can easily communicate in English with people. Also, I was surprised by how well-organised, egalitarian and environmentally conscious Sweden is. In addition, public transportation works very well and can take you to Copenhagen in less than 30 minutes. Lastly, it is often said that Sweden has a reputation for being an expensive country. However, I believe that it is totally possible to find cheaper options in Malmö as well."

Political Science: Global Politics, two-year master's programme

Dr Michael Strange is an associate professor in International Relations at the Department of Global Political Studies. He believes the programme — which has the option to do an internship, go on an exchange study, or choose an elective course — will suit students interested in deepening their knowledge of global political issues.

What is the master’s programme about?

To understand what ‘Political Science: Global Politics’ implies, it helps to consider four key developments we see in our modern world. 

First, it is increasingly clear that a number of actors, other than nation-states and the institutions they create (whether international or intergovernmental organisations), impact politics that go beyond the domestic state – that is, transnational or global. 

Second, while new information technologies and surveillance legislation mean that the administrative powers of the state have never been stronger, the concept of ‘government’ has become increasingly surpassed by ‘governance’ at the transnational level. Few decisions affecting our lives are taken exclusively within the local national context. 

Third, there has been a significant change in how actors, such as NGOs and individuals, challenge existing governance and modes of power. For example, social media has radically changed the transnational political landscape to both enable new forms of protest and contestation, as well as facilitate new political identities.

Fourth, pressing issues such as climate change and terrorism, show that the kinds of problems requiring policy solutions far exceed the confines of any nation-state. That is to say, policy problems are increasingly transnational and therefore require transnational solutions.

The global pandemic seen during 2020 shows these tensions, where we have witnessed both the apparent return of the nation-state as a central political unit, but also its abject failure to protect human welfare, and the desperate need to develop new transnational institutions.

Who would benefit from this programme?

Students must have an interest in these developments, as well as be willing to engage with challenging questions as to how we can better understand our contemporary world.

In addition to the usual demands of a master’s-level course, you can also choose between a one-semester professional internship, exchange studies, or an elective course. That means our students must be able to work independently and have the initiative to make the most of these options. 

The programme should be of interest to individuals committed to a career in which knowledge of our changing world is an evident benefit, with relevance to employers including international agencies, non-governmental organisations, transnational businesses, and local or national administrative agencies.

What is the difference between the one-year, and the two-year master’s programme?

The two-year programme builds upon the one-year programme, but the additional year ensures we can provide a much more ambitious range of learning activities; these include the options of an internship, exchange studies, or an elective course.

A lengthened study programme has the additional benefit of providing a more stable academic community among the students, who are expected to engage fully with the range of extra-curricular activities available at Malmö University.