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Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE IMS5040

 
TITLE Demographic Movements

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
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. It will explore emigrant movement of people within a social, economic, governmental, political and international setting. An evaluation of provenance, occupation, health, and travel documentation will be undertaken. This study-unit will look at Maltese migrant settlement in various countries. Issues of integration, repatriation, culture clash andassimilation.It will also explore matters relating to language and religious retention , occupation, housing, ties with the old country, ethnic press and media.Refugee studies, including the phenomenon of illegal immigration,asylum seeking and the integration of minorities, will also be examined.

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.

Main Texts

- Attard, L.: Early Maltese Emigration (1900-1914), (Gulf Publishing Ltd, Malta, 1983)
- Attard, L.: The Great Exodus (1918-1939), (Malta, PEG Ltd, 1989);
-Attard, L.: The Safety Valve: A History of Maltese Emigration from 1946, (Malta, PEG Ltd, 1997).
- 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)
- Cassola, A., & Aliffi, S.: Malta-Pachino - una storia in comune (Siracusa, Morrone, 2014).
- Castles, S.: The Age of Migration, (Palgrave, London, 2003)
- Cini, R: La Nostra Storia, (Melbourne, 1992)
- Cutajar, G.: Sthajjitni Malti ta' Gewwa Memorji ta' Tunez, (M.U.P, 2009)
- Donato, M.: Rue des Maltais: La vie de la colonie maltaise de Tunisie, (Nice, Editions Jacques Gandini, 2002).
- Frendo, H,: Diaspora: Maltese Overseas Settlement, (Malta, Midsea Books, 2020)
- 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
- Gauci, S.P.: The Chronicle of the Maltese Sisters in Corfu, (Corfu, Lychnos, 2007)
- Hayes, J. ‘Migration between Malta and French Algeria in the Nineteenth Century: Who was the Maltese Migrant?’ in Colonial Encounters: Maltese experiences of British Rule 1800-1970s, (Malta, Horizons, 2015
- Massa, D. (ed.): Malta: Esplorazzjoni, (Malta University Publishers, Malta, 2001)
- Price, C.: Malta and the Maltese: A Study in Nineteenth Century Migration, (Georgian House, Melbourne, 1954)
- Smith, A.L.: ‘The Maltese in Tunisia before the Protectorate, 1850-1870s: Towards a Revised Image’ in Journal of Mediterranean Studies, Institute of Mediterranean Studies, 10, 1-2, 2000
- Smith, A.L.: Colonial Memory and Postcolonial Europe: Maltese Settlers in Algeria and France, (USA, Indiana University Press, 2006)
- Vassallo, C.: Corsairing to Commerce: Maltese Merchants in XVIII Century Spain, (Malta, Malta University Publishers, 1997)
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 and Visit

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Carmel Cassar
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 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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