The Anglo Serbian Society is glad to announce:
The Tenth International Summer School for Democracy
Entitled
Transition, Islam and Democracy
to be held in Belgrade, Serbia
from 27th August till 7th September 2007
Organisers
The School is organized by the Centre for the Study of Democracy of the University of Westminster, London and the Anglo-Serbian Society, Belgrade.
The co‑Directors of the School are: Prof. Vukasin Pavlovic, Faculty of Political Science, Belgrade and Prof. Margaret Blunden, Professor Emeritus of the University of Westminster.
The School's Council is composed of two co-directors and additional four members: Prof. Vojislav Stanovcic, Corresponding member of the Serbian Academy, Dr. Simon Joss, Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy, Prof. Christopher Coker, London School of Economics and Dr. Slobodan Markovich, Executive Director of the Summer School.
The Background of the Idea
The School was originally organised by the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Belgrade and the University of Westminster. This annual summer school has been held since 1998. A group of professors from the Faculty of Political Science (FPS), University of Belgrade led by Prof. Vukasin Pavlovic, and The Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster, London (CSD), led by Prof. John Keane, established the International Summer School for Democracy, to be organised every year. The School was originally called The Yugoslav-British Summer School for Democracy, but was later re-named The International Summer School for Democracy. Due to the repressive Bill on Education enacted during the reign of former Yugoslav dictator Slobodan Milosevic, the School was placed under organisational control of the Anglo-Yugoslav Society and the Centre for the Study of Democracy, who have directed it since 1999. In 2004 the Anglo-Yugoslav Society changed its name to
the Anglo-Serbian Society.
This School was established after several years of successful academic co-operation between scholars from CSD and FPS. Results of the joint research project THE SUPPRESSED CIVIL SOCIETY (during 1994 and 1995), as well as joint meetings on CIVIL SOCIETY, WAR AND PEACE (London, February 1996), and UNIVERSITY, SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY (Budva, March 1997) established that interest, willingness and capacities for joint efforts do exist to improve and develop co-operation in teaching and research processes in the field of political science with a special stress on problems of democracy and political and social changes. The International Summer School for Democracy is one of the very important forms of this co-operation.
The 1998 course was: DEMOCRACY AND SOCIAL CHANGE,
The 1999 course was: MODERNITY AND THE STATE - EAST, WEST
(CIVIL SOCIETY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE),
The 2000 course was: THE DEMOCRATIC RECONSTRUCTION OF SOUTH-
EASTERN EUROPE,
The 2001 course was: GOOD GOVERNANCE - GLOBALISM AND LOCALISM,
The 2002 course was: CONSOLIDATION OF NEW DEMOCRACIES
The 2003 course was: DEMOCRACY, GLOBALISATION AND SECURITY
The 2004 course was: GLOBALISATION, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE WESTERN BALKANS
The 2005 course was: CULTURAL IDENTITIES AND DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE AND IN THE BALKANS
The 2006 was: NATIONALISM AND DEMOCRACY
The 2007 course is: TRANSITION, ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY
The 2008 course will be: ENVIRONMENT AND DEMOCRACY
The Mission of the School
- To improve junior faculty skills in modern democratic theory;
- To create networks of young scholars, political and NGO activists in SEE dealing with democratic theory;
- To analyse conditions and possibilities for democratic social changes, especially in so‑called transition societies;
- To develop and promote academic exchange between Western universities with Serbia and SEE countries.
- To improve regional academic co-operation and to overcome mutual stereotypes and preconceptions.
Participants and Lecturers
The main target group of participants are junior faculty, young political and NGO activists. There will be up to 30 participants altogether. Fifteen participants are to be selected from Serbia and an equal number will come from elsewhere in the region of South-Eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hellenic Republic, (F.Y.R.) Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Slovenia). Participants should have at the very least a BA degree, and preferably an MA degree in the social sciences or humanities. All other nationals are welcome to apply but the organisers can contribute only partially to their transportation costs.
All transportation and accommodation costs for participants selected are covered by the School through donations.
The course lecturers (resource persons) are professors and associates from the Centre for the Study of Democracy and other British universities (London School of Economics and other schools), from the University of Belgrade, and occasionally professors from other SEE countries, Western Europe, and the United States.
Objectives
1. The strengthening of existing networks from previous schools and the creation of new networks of critically oriented, open-minded individuals from the field of social sciences endeavoring to contribute to the process of democratization in SEE both theoretically and practically.
2. Dissemination of democratic theory among young political leaders, junior scholars and NGO activists in the region of SEE, thus facilitating the consolidation of democracies in the region.
3. Promotion of Euro-Atlantic integrations.
Rationale
The School was initiated during the authoritarian rule of Slobodan Milosevic, and has always endeavoured to foster regional co-operation and keep Yugoslav political and NGO activists and young scholars open to experiences and practices of Euro-Atlantic community. It was established at a time when Serbia faced xenophobia and ethnic hatred and this was an effort to overcome such attitudes. In the meantime the School has been developed into an active promoter of democratic values and tolerance in the region of SEE and it has become a regional Balkan School open to participants from other European countries.
Time and Place
The School lasts two weeks. In will be held from August 27, till September 7, 2007. The School will take place in Belgrade in Hotel Majestic. On day will be spent in Novi Pazar in Hotel Taj.
Topics
The International Summer School for Democracy in 2007 will be dedicated to the relation between Islam and democracy and to transition in the countries of SEE.
Participants will contribute with their first-hand experience in afternoon workshops.
- The co-ordinator for the first week will be: Dr. Abdelwahab El-Affendi, Centre for the Study of Democracy
- The co-ordinator for the second week will be: Dr. Slobodan G. Markovich
Lecturers
A. Lecturers on Islam and democracy, Islam in democracies and dialogue between Islam and Christianity:
- Prof. Ahmet Evin, Istanbul Policy Center
- Dr. Abdelwahab El-Affendi, Centre for the Study of Democracy, London
- Prof. Christopher Coker, London School for Economics and Political Science
- Aida Corovic, Urban-in, Novi Pazar
- Dr. Maria Holt, Centre for the Study of Democracy, London
- H.E. Rasim Ljajic, Minister of Labour and Social Policy
- Prof. Ali Paya, Centre for the Study of Democracy
- Prof. Vojislav Stanovcic, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
B. Lecturers on democratic transition in South-East and Central Europe:
- Dr. Dimo Bechev, University of Oxford
- Prof. Margaret Blunden, University of Westminster
- Dr. Spyros Economides, London School of Economics and Political Science
- Dr. Slobodan G. Markovich, Institute for European Studies, Belgrade
- Dr. Ferenc Miszlivetz, Institute for Social and European Studies, Szombathely
- Prof. Vukasin Pavlovic, Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Political Science, Belgrade
- Prof. Zarko Puhovski, University of Zagreb
- Ivan Vejvoda, Balkan Trust for Democracy
Afternoon Worshops’ Co-ordinators
- Eric Beckett Weaver, DPhil. Cand. (Oxon)
- Dr. Slobodan Markovich, Faculty of Political Science, Belgrade
Format
There will be three morning lectures every day from 10.00 till 13.30 with a lunch break till 15.00. In the afternoon times Afternoon Workshops will be held from 15.00 till 17.00.
All lectures are divided in half-an-hour to 45-minute introductions to the topic and the remaining time is dedicated to debates and questions for the lecturers.
Afternoon Workshops
All the selected participants are expected to prepare a either short presentation (15 minutes long) or an essay (3-5 pages) dealing with one of the following topics:
- The state of democracy in my country
- Economic transition in my country
- Perceptions of Islam in my country
- Islamic community in my country
Presentations and essays can be either descriptive or analytical depending on preferences.
For presentations al technical equipment is available including: power point presentations, over-head projector and flip charts.
The organizers will attempt to publish all adequately prepared essays and presentations in the Proceedings of the Summer School that are regularly printed in English.
Accommodation and Transportation
The Summer Seminar will be held in hotel Majestic (accommodation is in double rooms) in the very centre of Belgrade, Serbia.
(http://www.hoteli- srbije.co. yu/hoteli- beograda/ majestic- e.htm)
The organisers will cover adequate transportation costs to Belgrade from the region in agreement with the organisers. Travel costs of applicants applying outside of the region of SEE can not be covered.
Arrival Day
All the participants should arrive to Belgrade on Sunday, August 26, 2007, in afternoon or evening hours.
Rooms in Hotel in down town Belgrade are double. The hotel is situated in the very heart of down town Belgrade.
Departure Day
All the participants should depart from Belgrade on Friday, September 7, 2007, in afternoon hours.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All the participants are expected to attend all the lectures. Organisers are not in a position to offer places to participants who will be able to attend only part of lectures or who will not be able to be present at the seminar all the two weeks.
VISA REGIME: Nationals of the following countries do not need visas for Serbia: EU nationals (including European zone), nationals of (FYR) Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Croatia. Citizens of Albania and Turkey need visas for Serbia and the Anglo-Serbian Society will send to selected participants appropriate letters of invitation and will offer all other technical assistance should it be needed.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:
5th July – 25th July 2007
By July 27, 2007 the Selection Committee will have selected applicants.
Selected applicants will receive e-mails and will be asked to confirm their participation and will be informed what transportation costs the organisers can cover. After confirming their participation they will receive official letters of invitation.
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Applicants should have at the very least a BA degree, and preferably an MA or PhD degree in the social sciences or humanities. Applicants without completed BA degrees will not be taken into consideration.
Applicants should be researchers or lecturers. They can also be political or NGO leaders in their community.
2. All participants should be proficient in English since all the lectures are in English.
3. Participants should preferably be nationals or residents of SEE countries or other neighbouring countries. Nationals of other countries can also apply but the organisers can not guarantee that they will be able to cover all their travel costs.
All transportation and accommodation costs for selected participants from SEE are covered by donors of ISSD.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
All prospective applicants are expected:
1. To send their CVs.
2. To send a short letter of motivation explaining in up to two hundred words why they wish to be participants of the School
3. To send a letter of recommendation written by a university lecturer or a researcher.
4. To fill in the application form available at www.ays.org. yu
ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SHOULD BE SENT IN DIGITAL VERSION to summerschoolbelgrad e@yahoo.com
All the applications should be sent in digital form only to:
Ms. Milica Bogdanovic,
Programme Co-ordinator,
mobile: +381-63-311- 761
angloserbiansociety @gmail.com
CONTACT PERSONS:
Prof. Vukasin Pavlovic,
Co-Director of the School
e-mail: vpavlovic2003@ yahoo.com
phone:+381-11- 183-408
Address: Strahinjica Bana 10,
11 000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro
Dr. Slobodan Markovich,
Executive Director of the School
mobile: +381-63-228- 131
phone: +381-11-2686- 344
Address: Kraljice Natalije 21,
11 000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro
[sursa balkans]
If you want to receive academic resources in your e-mail on daily basis, please subscribe to 10resources-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
