Program Description:
Russia’s war on Ukraine since 2014 has made the topic of state borders in East Central Europe and the Black Sea Region extremely relevant. Moreover, borderlands in the region, instead of functioning as spaces of contact, exchange, and cooperation, are politicized, instrumentalized, and often perceived as areas of conflict and instability. Such a situation emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary platforms to reflect on the past, present, and future of border regions.
The Summer School aims to create a forum for graduate and Ph.D. students, early career scholars, and practitioners to engage in interdisciplinary discussions and exchange ideas on borderlands in the region. By bringing together scholars and practitioners from various fields, such as anthropology, history, economics, geography, political science, sociology, and cultural studies, the summer school aims to promote a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics that shape border regions and border communities.
The program of the school aims to provide participants with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with theoretical and methodological approaches to borderland studies, as well as to engage in critical discussions on key factors that affect border areas in the region. The summer school is an opportunity to present participants’ projects and receive feedback on them, as well as to join an international network of borderland studies professionals.
The Summer School will be held in Chişinau, Moldova, a country with a long history of border-related challenges, including migration, territorial disputes and conflicts. By hosting the Summer School in Chișinău, we aim to provide participants with a unique opportunity to learn from local scholars and practitioners, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of life in the borderland. The summer school format combines presentations, discussions, educational walks/trips, and public events. Lecturers at the school will be a group of international experts from multiple disciplines who study imaginary and real borders. Among the lecturers of the school are Steven Seegel (University of Texas at Austin), Diana Dumitru (Georgetown University), and Bohdan Shumylovych (Center for Urban History in Lviv).
Requirements for participants:
The summer school is open to graduate and Ph.D. students, early career scholars, and practitioners in the educational and cultural spheres. The working language of the school is English. The level of English proficiency should be sufficient to read academic literature, follow lectures, actively participate in discussions, and present your own projects.
The application must include the following:
- Academic CV (up to 3 pages)
- Description of a research, educational or cultural project related to borderland studies (no more than 500 words)
- Motivation letter (no more than 300 words)
Please send applications in one PDF file to ethnickh@gmail.com by April 15, 2023. Please note that all documents must be in English. If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt of your application, please contact the organizers.
Participant costs
Participation in summer school is free of charge. The organizers provide accommodation, lunches and refreshments for participants, and travel grants.