Bern, 5-9 September 2022

Populist and illiberal authoritarian tendencies have been part of the global political and social landscape for a number of years. They are also virulent in East-Central Europe, notably so in Hungary and Poland. The Summer School of the Eastern European Studies program based at the Universities of Bern and Fribourg aims to examine the historical, political, cultural and social causes and emerging conditions of these trends from an interdisciplinary perspective.

The following specific topics will be taken into account during the Summer School:
- Education & Science
- Press freedom & media landscape
- The rule of the law based state
- Historical and intellectual basics
- Antimodern tendencies & religion
- The role of the opposition

The Summer School is organized by the Eastern European Studies program based at the Universities of Bern and Fribourg, which specializes in interdisciplinary historical and contemporary issues of Eastern and East-Central Europe. The Summer School will be held in English. Active participation is expected of all attendees.

Keynote speeches by renowned experts will delimit the guiding principles of the discussion. Joint debates on the subject matter take place in rotation between working groups and plenary discussions. For preparation purposes, a reading list will be sent in advance as a basis for discussion to all participants. As an outcome of the Summer School, participants will create an independent podcast, video, blog, or interview contribution on a predefined topic in working groups. These will be made available to a broader interested public on the website of the Summer School.

Participants can expect the opportunity to intensively exchange with experts from the field of research and young researchers from different countries, and they will also be able to expand their own international network.

When successfully completing the Summer School, participants will receive a confirmation for their studies of 3 ECTS. How these ECTS points will be credited to the individual participants study records will be decided by the respective 'home' university of each participant.

Advanced students of Eastern European studies, specifically the historical or social sciences, as well as doctoral students who focus on Eastern (and East-Central) Europe and at least on one of the following topics, are invited to apply:

- Populism
- Illiberal tendencies
- Authoritarian developments
- Nation and nationalism
- Identity politics
- Social movements
- Political Extremism
- Minorities
- Concepts of freedom
- Forms of protest
- Civil society
- Personalism

The organizers would especially encourage interested early stage researchers from East-Central Europe and Switzerland to apply. The Summer School will take place in Münchenwiler Castle, if the pandemic situation allows. The costs of travel (2nd class), accommodation and meals will be covered by the Summer School.

To apply for the Summer School, please send a short CV, a letter of motivation (about 300 words) and a certificate of study / MA diploma in a single PDF file by March 31, 2022, to the following email: osteuropa-studien.hist@unibe.ch. Applicants will be informed about the status of their application by May 14, 2022.

Contact Info:
Eastern European Studies Bern/Fribourg

Prof. Jens Herlth (co-organizer), Chair of Slavic Studies, University of Fribourg, Switzerland (jens.herlth@unifr.ch)

Contact Email:
osteuropa-studien.hist@unibe.ch
URL:
http://www.osteuropa-studien.ch