Summer School - Building up Open Structures or Breaking Down into Local Identities 8 September - 22 September 2018, Czech Republic
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The objective of the Summer University Prague 2018, “Project Europe at a Crossroads”, is to provide students with a broad understanding of the most significant political and social issues in contemporary Europe.
Instead of relaxing at the “End of History” after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc in 1989, Europe is facing new challenges at the beginning of the 21st century. These new challenges – including the economic and financial crisis, ageing population, growing separatist/devolutionist tendencies in Scotland, Catalonia and other European regions, complicated relations with Russia and Turkey, terrorist attacks connected with the activities of the Islamic State, and the strong immigration flow – are raising concerns and leading to significant political radicalization and social unrest.
This challenging period raises feelings of uncertainty: How should Europe tackle these challenges? Europe stands at a crossroads. Should it build open structures and intensify the project of European integration? Or is it more likely to break down into local identities and follow regional and national interests?
What will “Europe” mean in the future? How many people from outside can Europe welcome and still be Europe? What are the prospects for future cooperation and negotiations between Europe and its neighbours, and between Europe and other global actors like the USA and China? Are the current populist and separatist sentiments more threatening than those which arose in past decades? Whence come Europe's problems: are they self-inflicted, external, or bubbling up from the member states?
This “Age of Uncertainty” is an ideal time to revise common approaches and look for new perspectives. We will, together, analyse and discuss the current development of Europe in an inspiring environment made up of students coming from countries all over the world.
The course provides an interdisciplinary approach and combines multiple learning methods, such as lectures, workshops, round-table discussions, field work, group-work and student presentations. Students will not only have the opportunity to explore a range of interesting topics and gain valuable insights into the current challenges and risks to the development of Europe, but will also have occasion to improve their research and presentation skills.
Moreover, there will be numerous free-time activities that will provide participants with a chance to enjoy the wide range of attractions that Prague has to offer.
In the final group presentations and simulation, students will have the opportunity to demonstrate that they are not only able to analyse generally the most significant recent political and social issues for Europe (both internal and external), but also to consider them politically, by entertaining the possible reactions of EU member states to various proposed solutions in terms of their acceptability, applicability and sustainability. For this, students will be part of a team-based project.
Part of our purpose will be to examine how difficult it is to agree upon a common proposal in a diverse group of students coming from various countries and holding different views.
The university’s lecturers and professors will be available to answer questions, provide assistance, and consult with students about their work.
ECTS credits:
Course hours:
Active participation: 55 hours (1 hour = 60 minutes)
Time anticipated for preparation before the course (reading materials): 55 hours
Time anticipated for preparation for workshops and final presentations during the course: 10 hours
Time anticipated for writing the seminar paper and additional reading and research: 120 hours
Total time – Option No. 1 (4 ECTS credits): 120 hours
Total time – Option No. 2 (8 ECTS credits): 240 hours
The reading materials will be available via our online reader for participants beginning August 8, 2018.
After the end of the summer school, students will have one month (until October 23, 2018) to hand in their papers.
During the entire period, students may get in touch with our lecturers and tutors who are ready to assist them.
Students will be staying in a dormitory of Charles University situated in the residential part of Prague (Prague 6). It takes about 35 minutes by bus and tram to the building where almost all your lectures and workshops will take place. The accommodation is included in the total price of your course.
Address: Kolej Kajetánka, Radimova 12, 160 00 Prague 6 (map)
The Kolej Kajetánka dormitory is located in Prague 6 under the Břevnov Monastery (Břevnovský klášter). It offers accommodation in cubicles (with shared bathroom and toilet facilities for two rooms only), and in single and double rooms (the number of single rooms, which are available for us, is limited). There is a beautiful view of Prague Castle from the rooms on the upper floors. There is a good bus and tram or metro connection to the city centre. The stop for this transportation is in the immediate vicinity of the dormitory. There is a free car park available in front of the building for guests using motorised transport.
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