Course Name: POL 40589 Human Trafficking, Political Corruption, and the Mafia
Description: Every year, tens of thousands of African migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean in search of a better life in Europe. Along the way, they are exploited by human trafficking rings who charge them large sums of money only to pack them into boats that, in many cases, are not seaworthy. Because of this, more than 20,000 of these migrants have drowned at sea since 2014. In 2023 alone, more than 2,500 perished attempting to make that dangerous journey.
As a result, Italy expends enormous amounts of money and resources each year conducting rescue operations in the Mediterranean. For those migrants who do make the crossing alive, most land in Italy with little more than the clothes on their backs. This has resulted in a refugee crisis of historical proportions. This course examines the nexus between the socio-economic conditions that drive refugees to migrate, and the corrupt politicians and criminal organizations that profit from the crisis. Consideration will also be given to the ways in which the crisis has contributed to the rise of populist authoritarian leaders and the erosion of democratic norms and institutions in Europe. Finally, comparisons will be made with the ongoing migrant crisis in the United States, and its impact on our own democracy.
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None