Refugee week at City Lit: Capitalism and migration
With money-making activities growing around people on the move, we explore how capitalism shapes refugees’ lives and ask: who profits while others are deported and detained
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Refugee Weekis the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
For Refugee Week 2026, City Lit is offering a series of one‑off workshops that promote inclusion, understanding and shared creativity. Led by our expert tutors, the sessions will focus on lived experiences of displacement, bringing together students, staff and the local community for storytelling, skill‑sharing and cultural exchange. You can find out more aboutCity Lit's journey to becoming a College of Sanctuaryhere.
This session examines the multiple and sometimes surprising profit-making activities that are currently expanding around people on the move or seeking refuge over national borders - andidentifiesstrategies and interventions designed to prevent actors profiting from harm.
What will we cover?
The historical relationship between capitalism and migration
The actors and industries that currently profit from people seeking asylum (includingbrokers and smugglers; contractors building fences and walls; border securitisation system manufacturers; corporations running private detentioncentresand private lawyers)
Challenges to asylum industry harms that are taking place in and beyond the UK
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Explain how capitalism and migration are connected
Identifyand map where people seeking refuge encounter harm - and the actors which profit from it
Critically evaluate alternatives to ‘the asylum industry’
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This session is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course.
Given the sensitive nature of the topics the session will explore, we also expect everyone to engage group and class discussions with respect and the willingness to learn from others.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This class will be taught through a mixture of lecture, small group activities, individual reflection, and whole group discussion.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are noadditionalcosts, but you may wish to bring pen and paper or a digital equivalent for notetaking
Siobhán McGuirk is an internationally experienced researcher, lecturer, journalist and filmmaker. She has a PhD in Anthropology and her specialisms include migration, LGBTQ+ rights, social justice movements and US history. As a teacher and researcher, she uses creative and collaborative methods designed to bring people together and positively shape the ways we think and act in the world.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/refugee-week-at-city-lit-capitalism-and-migration3040090Refugee week at City Lit: Capitalism and migrationhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/global-history.jpg1010GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Politics & economics/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Politics & economics/Global & regional politics228511771677135421228511771677<p>With money-making activities growing around people on the move, we explore how capitalism shapes refugees’ lives and ask: who profits while others are deported and detained</p>003040084Refugee week at City Lit: Capitalism and migration1010https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/global-history.jpgInStockDaytimeThuKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-06-18T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJun 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHPC3441010Refugee week at City Lit: Capitalism and migration8710Siobhan McGuirkrefugee-week-at-city-lit-capitalism-and-migration/hpc344-2526<p>With money-making activities growing around people on the move, we explore how capitalism shapes refugees’ lives and ask: who profits while others are deported and detained</p>0000-Available|2026-06-18 00:00:00<p><a href="https://refugeeweek.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Refugee Week</a>is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.</p><p>For Refugee Week 2026, City Lit is offering a series of one‑off workshops that promote inclusion, understanding and shared creativity. Led by our expert tutors, the sessions will focus on lived experiences of displacement, bringing together students, staff and the local community for storytelling, skill‑sharing and cultural exchange. You can find out more about<a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/college-of-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">City Lit's journey to becoming a College of Sanctuary</a>here.</p><p>This session examines the multiple and sometimes surprising profit-making activities that are currently expanding around people on the move or seeking refuge over national borders - andidentifiesstrategies and interventions designed to prevent actors profiting from harm.</p><p>With money-making activities growing around people on the move, we explore how capitalism shapes refugees’ lives and ask: who profits while others are deported and detained</p><ul><li><p>The historical relationship between capitalism and migration</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The actors and industries that currently profit from people seeking asylum (includingbrokers and smugglers; contractors building fences and walls; border securitisation system manufacturers; corporations running private detentioncentresand private lawyers)</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Challenges to asylum industry harms that are taking place in and beyond the UK</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Explain how capitalism and migration are connected</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Identifyand map where people seeking refuge encounter harm - and the actors which profit from it</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Critically evaluate alternatives to ‘the asylum industry’</p></li></ul><p>This session is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course.</p><p>Given the sensitive nature of the topics the session will explore, we also expect everyone to engage group and class discussions with respect and the willingness to learn from others.</p><p>This class will be taught through a mixture of lecture, small group activities, individual reflection, and whole group discussion.</p><p>There are noadditionalcosts, but you may wish to bring pen and paper or a digital equivalent for notetaking</p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/searchcourse/?q=Refugee+week+at+City+Lit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">See our other Refugee Week courses</a></p>Politics & economicsGlobal & regional politicsvirtual8107HPC344NONEThu18/06/2615:00 - 17:0015:0017:001 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetSiobhan McGuirkBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-06-18T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Culture, history & humanities1010Refugee week at City Lit: Capitalism and migrationrefugee-week-at-city-lit-capitalism-and-migration/hpc344-2526<p>With money-making activities growing around people on the move, we explore how capitalism shapes refugees’ lives and ask: who profits while others are deported and detained</p>0000-Available|2026-06-18 00:00:00<p><a href="https://refugeeweek.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Refugee Week</a>is the world’s largest arts &amp; culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.</p><p>For Refugee Week 2026, City Lit is offering a series of one‑off workshops that promote inclusion, understanding and shared creativity. Led by our expert tutors, the sessions will focus on lived experiences of displacement, bringing together students, staff and the local community for storytelling, skill‑sharing and cultural exchange. You can find out more about<a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/college-of-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">City Lit's journey to becoming a College of Sanctuary</a>here.</p><p>This session examines the multiple and sometimes surprising profit-making activities that are currently expanding around people on the move or seeking refuge over national borders - andidentifiesstrategies and interventions designed to prevent actors profiting from harm.</p><p>With money-making activities growing around people on the move, we explore how capitalism shapes refugees’ lives and ask: who profits while others are deported and detained</p><ul><li><p>The historical relationship between capitalism and migration</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The actors and industries that currently profit from people seeking asylum (includingbrokers and smugglers; contractors building fences and walls; border securitisation system manufacturers; corporations running private detentioncentresand private lawyers)</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Challenges to asylum industry harms that are taking place in and beyond the UK</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Explain how capitalism and migration are connected</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Identifyand map where people seeking refuge encounter harm - and the actors which profit from it</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Critically evaluate alternatives to ‘the asylum industry’</p></li></ul><p>This session is suitable both for newcomers to the subject and for those who have some background knowledge. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course.</p><p>Given the sensitive nature of the topics the session will explore, we also expect everyone to engage group and class discussions with respect and the willingness to learn from others.</p><p>This class will be taught through a mixture of lecture, small group activities, individual reflection, and whole group discussion.</p><p>There are noadditionalcosts, but you may wish to bring pen and paper or a digital equivalent for notetaking</p><p><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/searchcourse/?q=Refugee+week+at+City+Lit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">See our other Refugee Week courses</a></p>Politics & economicsGlobal & regional politicsconfigurable
