Aims & ObjectivesThis interdisciplinary Summer University and cooperation of teachers and students, has its focus on East- and South-Eastern Europe and deals with the cultural and intellectual aspects and dimensions of current European integration. Furthermore, it should be a possibility to shape profiles of future executives in different areas such as politics, administration, economy, science and religion | How the International Summer School worksThis is a two-week (14 days) campus-style summer school for 80 students on a grant basis. Six seminars run parallel to a series of lectures. Lectures feature special guests and an excursion to Graz. Students can obtain accreditation of participation (ECTS credits) for their study programs. Our website offers documentation of lectures and seminars of the Summer School. TOP | Topic/Focus 2010"European Culturs; The Challenge of Diversity and Unity" One of the founders of the European community said: If he could start again he would begin with culture, not with economics. Economies may adapt to each other, political systems may be integrated. But culture is a more unruly phenomenon. It contains people’s environment their views on man and society, on nation and community, on past and future; and their ideas about a decent and good life. A Europe of culture(s) - the plural does not emphasize the unity and conformity of Europe, and hence European “identity” in the sense of considering a common block of specific features, but it emphasizes European diversity: historical variousness and present dissimilarity of countries, groups and people. Even processes of Europeanization and globalization reinforce tendencies towards conformity as well as tendencies towards differentiation. European diversity is strength and weakness at the same time. It is strength because the peculiar European dynamics is rooted in cultural differences concentrated within a relatively small territory. It is a problem because it is difficult to forge a peaceful community consisting of diverse peoples. Diversity is inspiring and stimulating; it might widen our horizon and create further innovations. But diversity might, at the same time, make it difficult to live with each other in everyday life. What is valid for the European core applies even more to the peripheral zones of Europe, and especially to countries which belong to different “sub-civilizations”. Whichever policies will be pursued in regard to establishing a European “community”, a “federal state” or a “super-state”, and however European authorities will deal with questions of migration and mobility – there is no doubt that Europe is not an island, and that within a few decades it will be a “colourful” continent, in several regards. Europe will need the internal power to guard its valuable historical-cultural traditions, to explain and spread its heritage. But it will also need to get used to the idea of being a part of the whole world: to become a truly “cosmopolitan Europe”. A Europe of culture(s) - this means that culture is not only art and literature, religion and values. There is “economic culture” which is necessary for the dynamic development of a market society; but there are “varieties of capitalism”, especially in connection with the “European social model”. There is “political culture” as a foundation of a democratic order; but there are strong pressures so that some observers tend to warn of the rise of the approaching post-democratic epoch. There is judiciary culture and the professional culture of administrators and doctors, teachers and journalists; complicated systems do not function without an ethical and normative framework. National culture is demonstrated in historical symbols and commemoration days, in monuments and folklore; but the tension between personal embedding and general social mobility, between patriotism and cosmopolitism is felt. A harmonious Europe of culture(s) - this is not a matter of course, as an evolutionary result that can be expected with confidence, but a rather unbelievable entity. It is not a product which will be delivered by history, free of charge, but a complex model that has to be worked out, with perseverance and sanguinity. (Manfred Prisching)
TOP | ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Morning Lectures (9.00 – 12.00 am) Each lecturer teaching in the afternoon seminars will also give one morning lecture during the week. All students will attend the morning lectures; thus, the topic of these lectures will be directed towards a general audience. After the presentation by the lecturer, there will be a 20min break, after which students will have the chance to ask questions during a plenary discussion. (More information on the morning lectures will be available soon!) Seminars (2.30 – 5.30 pm)According to their interest students choose one of the following seminar modules: | Connecting CulturesThe aim of this interactive session is to facilitate your first contacts with your peers and raise your awareness of how different cultural backgrounds shape our perception and expectations. We will look at intercultural interaction and its challenges and work on how diversity can be enriching, thrilling and provocative at the same time. We will discuss different cultural notions of learning and finally also try to talk about your idea of being a member of a multicultural class during the summer school. Diana Afrashteh & Ulla Kriebernegg/ Karl-Franzens University Graz 
| Seminar Module 1 – Law & PoliticsWeek 1:
“European Diversity and Decentralization of Administration” European diversity of administration could be a great problem of integration if the Union would try to centralize the administration. Decentralization is especially important for the equilibrium in the EU. During the lecture it will be analyzed how the principle of subsidiary, as a common principle of EU and Member States helps to prevent conflicts and to concretize the decentralization. The lecture will show possibilities of decentralization in different examples and aspects. The possibility to be independent in realizing the purposes and targets strengthens responsibility and the spirit of innovations – both so much needed under circumstances of post-crisis Europe. “Administrational models of culture to retain the diversity” Different models of relations between State and Culture bring also diversity in the culture administration. The lecture will focus on different models of these relations with their pros and contras. Europe of culture is the Europe of different places of the culture in the society. In big and small countries, and especially, in the post-communist countries – where culture played only a role of space of individual freedom (beside church). Should the administration conserve traditional models of the culture administration or should we search for unique European model of this relation? The course will try to answer this question and show legal consequences of choosing the concrete models. - Irena Lipowicz, Stiftung für die Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit, Poland
“Migrations from/to Southeastern Europe” Normalization is the word that to sum up the diverse processes of migration from and to the Balkans at the beginning of the 21st century. The main trends are from forced migration to returns in the countries of former Yugoslavia, from ethnic to economic logic, and from definitive migration to circular migration. Seasonal workers and highly qualified migrants, students and undocumented migrants, as well as “traditional” refugees – all different forms of migration constitute the patchwork of migration, on the routes of Balkan people on the way to their happiness and achievements. - Anna Krasteva, New Bulgarian University
 Download Powerpoint Presentations as PDF-File:
 Anna Krasteva -"Post Communist Migrant Condition" held on 08 July 2010
Week 2:
“The Law and Politics of Cultural Diversity Management: A Neo-institutional Approach” In the first part of the seminar we will deal with state formation and nation-building in Europe; deconstructing the ideology of ethno-nationalism and critically assess the conundrums of liberalism. The second part of the seminar is dedicated to European integration and the question whether and which form of European identity is needed beyond a common market. Finally we will deal with problems of discrimination against and integration of so-called new minorities stemming from immigration. A focus will be given to religious minorities, in particular to the relationship between secularism and Islam in the pan-European area. - Josef Marko, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria
TOP | Seminar Module 2 – Economy & InnovationWeek 1:
“Entrepreneurship: an Economic or Cultural Phenomenon” In this course the theory of entrepreneurship and in particular the influence of culture on the re-emergence of entrepreneurship will be discussed; how does entrepreneurship contribute to renovate the economic and socials structures of society. Different patterns of the business sector will be presented, in which innovative entrepreneurs are fulfilling different roles from setting up new ventures to entrepreneurial leaders of large scale companies. - Joop G. Vianen, Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Week 2:
"Invention, Innovation, Imitation: On the Dynamics of Modern Economies" Modern economies are characterized by permanently revolutionizing their techniques by means of which they produce an ever larger number of commodities. The process under consideration has aptly been described as a process of "creative destruction" (J.A. Schumpeter). The seminar deals with the causes, forms and effects of this process. The emphasis will be on the role of competition, conceived of as rivalry, and the generation and application of economically useful new knowledge. - Heinz Dieter Kurz, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria
TOP | Seminar Module 3 – History & PowerWeek 1:
"Central Europe and the Balkans at the End of the Middle Ages" The seminar will focus on various aspects of Christian-Ottoman relations in the Balkans at the end of the Middle Ages, ranging from open military conflicts, through diplomacy, to different forms of communication and exchange. A particular emphasis will be put on the Balkan Christians' views and perception of the Ottomans as "the Other". The changes in mentalities of the Balkan Christian elites will also be dealt with. The seminar will be rounded up with an overview of political, economic and demographic consequences of Ottoman raids and conquests. - Borislav Grgin, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Week 2:
“The Balkans, Turkey, Islam and Europe” This seminar first looks at the impact of the Ottoman Empire in Europe with a special focus on the cross - crescent conflict from 1389 until 1878. Our focus then shifts to the retreat of the Ottoman Empire from the Balkans and its multiple legacies in the region. In the 20th and 21st century contexts, we will examine how the Ottoman Empire and subsequently Turkey are perceived in Europe in terms of how history is taught, contemporary public opinion and the prospects for the integration of not only Turkey but Islam in general into the European Union. - Robert Austin, University of Toronto, Canada
TOP | Seminar Module 4 – Society & CultureWeek 1:
“Cultural Diversity: A Challenge for Europe” Cultural diversity has a double face: Sometimes it is seen as an important background for creative developments and it is mostly welcomed (e.g. in organizations and the creative industry). Sometimes, it can also be seen as a cause for difficulties in understanding and as a problem for the cohesion of society. Migration policies, especially, tend to react mainly to this second face of cultural diversity. Management of cultural diversity and its ambiguities is a necessity for the future of the European Union and the seminar should give an insight into the main problems of this undertaking. Which theoretical concepts can help us to understand cultural diversity? How can cultural diversity and its consequences be studied empirically? Can a common European culture develop? - Katherina Scherke, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria
Week 2:
„Ethnic and National Minorities in Intercultural Europe” The aim of the seminar is to discuss the influence of ethnic/national minorities on the European cultural mosaic in the past and the present. The focus will be on the critical approach to the concepts of minority, identity, diversity, inter-culturality, nation state etc., and to the typologies of the minority groups from which, in concrete societies and in specific ways, the rights of ethnic/national minorities are mainly derived. - Jadranka Cacic-Kumpes, University of Zadar, Croatia
TOP | Seminar Module 5 – Ethics and ReligionWee k1:
“Religion, Ethics, Politics” In the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union institutionalizes a permanent dialogue with religions. This implies that the dominant paradigm is not privatization, but the recognition of the public role of religion. The question, however, is: What does this concretely mean? Four aspects of this question will be discussed: (1) Beyond privatization: different models of thinking about the relationship between religion and politics. (2) Beyond liberalism: how socio-political ethics can contribute to a social-market economy. (3) Religions: cause of violence or contribution to peace-building. Lessons from the history of 20th century Europe. (4) Freedom rights versus social rights. Universal human rights or particular rights of citizens. A critique of the European Charter of the Rights of the Citizens of the European Union. - Johan Verstraeten, University of Leuven, Belgium
Week 2: (Seminar information on the 2nd week will be available soon!) TOP | Seminar Module 6 - Media & CommunicationWeek 1:
“Media, Communication and Language” The aim of the module is to discuss the transformations of the current media system in Europe and in the U.S. The complex interplay between media companies, journalists, public relators, public opinion will be shown through an analysis of current media practices. The course will blend a sociological and a semiotic approach, treating media practices as emerging forms of language. Professional practices, media power and effects, ethics, media narratives, new technologies will be the main keywords of the course. - Mattia Miani, University of Bologna, Italy
Week 2:
“Democracy and the Internet” On the one hand theories of mobilization expect an increase of democratization and of democracies’ quality by new information and communication technologies (ICTs). On the other hand theories of reinforcement forecast an intensification of negative developments like political discouragement, political cynicism, a culture of political mistrust, and a digital divide. At the same time politics as well as the scientific community are divided in “believers” and “sceptics” of ICTs. A third group of more reserved “analysts” was only present until the mid nineties of the last century and is now a minority. In the seminar all theories and its practical consequences will be discussed. - Peter Filzmaier, Karl-Franzens University Graz, Austria
- Thomas Mayer, Der Standard, Austria
TOP | More about the LecturersProf. Robert Austin Prof. Jadranka Cacic-Kumpes Prof. Dr.Peter Filzmaier Dr. Anna Krasteva Prof. Heinz Kurz Prof. Dr. Irena Lipowicz Prof. Dr. Josef Marko Prof. Mattia Miani Prof. Dr. Manfred Prisching Prof. Katherina Scherke Prof. DDDr. Clemens Sedmak Prof. Dr. Johan Verstraeten Prof. Dr. Joop Vianen | Certificate/ECTSParticipants will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the summer school. Furthermore, it is possible for participants to gain 6 ECTS credits in this summer school project. To obtain these credits, students have to participate in the full program AND write a seminar paper. This paper has to be written for one of the lecturers of the afternoon seminars. TOP |
Agenda 2010The current Agenda 2010 for Summer School Seggau can be downloaded << here >> as PDF document. TOP | Program ActivitiesBesides the morning lectures and the seminars in the afternoon, students will go on a one-day excursion to Graz, the capital city of the province of Styria. On Saturday July 10th, there will be a one-day trip to Graz including a visit to the Karl-Franzens-University, sightseeing through Graz and sure also some time for you to stroll around within the unique city of Graz. We will give you more details about that excursion during the first week of the summer school. (Visit: http://www.graz.at ) In addition to this excursion, there will be other organized cultural or regional excursions, where students can take part voluntarily. There is an outdoor swimming pool at the venue; you can also play volley ball or football at the green, or play table tennis. Furthermore, we will organize movie nights and you will have a wine tasting at the Seggau Castle, which famous for its excellent local wine. You may also want to walk down to the small city of “Leibnitz”, just some walking minutes away from Seggau Castle. TOP |
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