The second call for the summer school in Narva: “Belarus and Its Neighbours: Regime Survival in the Times of War”, 3-8 July 2022
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies at the University of Tartu invites graduate, post-graduate and doctoral students to apply for the summer school “Belarus and Its Neigbours: Regime Survival in the Times of War”. Considering the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war, the initial content of the school has been modified, with a particular emphasis on the emerging international insecurities.
The school is part of a project “Raising awareness on civil society of Belarus through learning and research activities” supported by the 2020 – 2023 Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid programme of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
CONTENT
The school is intended to explore from the perspective of political science and international relations the role of Belarus in the new geopolitical and security landscape in Eastern Europe shaped by Russia’s war against Ukraine that started on February 24, 2022. The school offers a series of classes, lectures and panel discussions focusing on both domestic and international dimensions of the Lukashenka regime.
The focal topics to be discussed include the recent political developments in Belarus in the aftermath of the fraudulent presidential election of August 9, 2020, followed by mass scale protests and the ensuing violent repressions by the Minsk officialdom. The school program is designed to cover and problematize the ongoing political dynamics in the post-protest Belarus in conjunction with foreign policies, including relations with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. Classes, seminars and workshops are aimed for both empirical analysis of the situation within and around Belarus, and developing and testing conceptual approaches and frames to be used as explanatory tools of domestic changes and their international repercussions.
The teaching staff is recruited from universities of Tartu, Riga, Bratislava, Warsaw and Tubingen. The learning process consists of lectures and interactive classes based on students’ inclusive participation, topical presentations and group-based debate. Awareness of empirical facts and ability to critically engage in profound discussions on the current political situation in Belarus are highly encouraged.
The working language is English. Participation is equal to 4 ECTS credits, which will be confirmed by a certificate awarded to each student upon successful completion of the School.
TENTATIVE TOPICS
- From regime change to regime survival: trajectories of Lukashenka’s reign
- The migration crisis on Belarus’ borders with the EU and NATO: Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian perspectives
- Belarus in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine
- Estonia’s discourse on and approaches to Belarus
- Theorizing the Lukashenka regime: explanatory concepts and approaches
- The future of Belarus: scenario planning
VENUE
The venue of the School is the Narva College of the University of Tartu. The organizers provide comfortable accommodation, free Internet access and various outdoor opportunities.
COSTS
The organizers will cover accommodation and some meal costs, while participants are expected to arrange and cover their travel to and from Narva by themselves.
HOW TO APPLY
B.A. (3rd and 4th year), M.A. and PhD students, as well as young NGO practitioners with a relevant work experience are invited to submit their CVs and motivation letters explaining their interest in the topic and its relevance for the applicant’s future career. The motivation letter should also contain applicant’s full name, date of birth, postal address and phone number. The deadline for submission is May 1, 2022.
Applications should be sent to Fidan Vali, project coordinator at: fidan.vali@ut.ee with “Summer school in Narva” indicated as the subject of the email.