Certified Summer Program - Geopolitics and Security: The Case of the Black Sea-Caspian Sea Region, 18 June– 3 July 2016, Tbilisi, Georgia

Publish Date: Jun 08, 2016

Deadline: Jun 12, 2016

Event Dates: from Jun 18, 2016 12:00 to Jul 03, 2016 12:00

Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) is pleased to announce call for applications on the Certified Summer Program inGeopolitics and Security: The Case of the Black Sea-Caspian Sea Region for English Speaking Students.

The course is specially designed for the American Students and annually is offered for the fourth time already. This year we give you the special chance to study with American students, attend cultural events and field trips, meet and attend the lecturers in the sphere.

Program Description and Objectives

This course provides graduate and senior undergraduate level students with a broad knowledge and understanding of the Black Sea-Caspian Region. The course will provide with strategic overview of historic and recent developments, as well as with different scenarios for long-term developments in the region through examination of the empirical cases and current security environment in the region. The focus of the course will be on pivotal states for the stability and growth in the region: Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. 

During the class discussion we will paint strategic map of the Caucasus and Central Asia by looking at multiple internal and external factors of stability, including: interests of major powers and conflicting foreign policy priorities of the regional countries; status of governance, efficiency of the states, and problem of corruption; strong macro growth in some countries due to natural resources, accompanied by limited access to economic and educational opportunities; employment as a security issue and key measure of state legitimacy; misallocation of natural, human and economic resources; status of civil society; opportunities for facilitating citizens’ involvement in the national development of multiethnic societies and increasing their sense of empowerment.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to: 

  • Define political and economic geography and historic origins of the Black Sea-Caspian region;
  • Define regional states’ foreign-security policies and domestic political development;
  • Critically analyze existing and potential challenges and conflicts of the region;
  • Apply IR theory elements learned in other classes to this region
  • Define the basic economic and energy security issues for broader Eurasia;
  • Critically analyze alternative strategies for energy security.

By the end of the program, the students will:

  • Develop a clear understanding of the origin and historic development of the regional states and great powers influencing the region
  • Learn about major challenges of the region, dominated by ethno-political conflicts, as well as challenges like demographic trends, unemployment etc.
  • Explore the opportunities for potential positive political and economic developments in the region.
  • Gain a thorough understanding of how world politics is affected by energy security and energy policy, as well as understanding of the connection between energy supplies to Europe and long term security;
  • Improve their ability to apply theoretical approaches to specific cases: BTC Pipeline; Southern Corridor for the Natural Gas etc.

Cultural and Social Events are not limited to:

  • Welcome Dinner and tour to Old Capital of Georgia – Mtskheta
  • Visit to the National Museum of Georgia (Tbilisi)
  • Wine Tasting  - Tour to Eastern Georgia – Kakheti
  • Tour to mountainous region of Georgia – Kazbegi 

Program Schedule:

For the details, download Program Schedule

Course Requirements:

Students will be expected to attend every class prepared to discuss the assigned issues, current news about the Black Sea-Caspian Region, and actively engage in discussions with guest speakers. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive GIPA Certificate of Completion and the letter of Transcript.

To receive the certificate, students will have to compete following assignments:

1)     Essay Writing (35%): Essay reflecting on one of the major Security challenges for the selected country of the region. (3-5 pages)2)    Group Projects and Presentations (40%): Groups are required to prepare and make 20-minute formal presentation on the basis of the analysis of the selected topic. 3)    Class Participation (25%).  

Program Format

This program will combine the lecture format with class discussion. Students are expected to be ready for the class discussions based on the assigned readings. Students are also expected to follow the current news about the region to be discussed in the class.

There will be one in-class meeting per day for two hours, at 10 am, and several afternoon sessions at 2 pm with visiting guest-speakers, including Georgian officials, foreign diplomats and members of the business community.

Application Procedures 

Applications are accepted by Email. Deadline for submission of applications is June 12, 2016. Applicants should provide the following documents:

  1. Statement of Purpose (max. 300 words)
  2. Updated CV with the contact information 

After admission, the students will receive notification via e-mail no later than June 15.

Program Fee  

The total program cost is 1500 GEL for Georgian Students. The tuition fee includes full social and cultural program.

See the full brochure of the program here.  

Course Coordinators:

International: Mamuka Tsereteli Director of Research with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center, based in Washington DC. His expertise includes international economic policy, economic and energy security, political and economic risk analysis and mitigation strategies, and business development in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Dr. Tsereteli teaches classes on Energy and Security at American University and the School for Advanced International Study at Johns Hopkins University. Previously he served as Director of the Center for Black Sea-Caspian Studies at American University, and as Founding Executive Director at the America-Georgia Business Council.

Local: Bakur Kvashilava Dean of the School of Law and Politics, Professor, GIPA (Georgian Institute of Public Affairs) . 10 years of managerial experience at GIPA and academic expertise of +12 years. Bakur Kvashilava has experience working for the private and public sectors; he served in the Foreign Policy Analysis Department of the President’s Administration in 1999-2001, he represented Exxon Mobil Co. in Georgia in 2004-2005 and served in the OSCE Mission to Georgia. He teaches several courses at GIPA – the Introduction to International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Ideologies, Parties and Electoral Systems. His current work and research is concentrated on Political Risk Analysis, Regime Transformation and Political Parties. Bakur Kvashilava regularly partakes in joint efforts treating these issues with the other key academic and research institutions that engage in the study of international relations and politics. He is one of the founding members of the Association for International Relations. At various times, Bakur Kvashilava offered and offers lectures and training for IDEA, Georgian Foundation for International COORDINATORS and Strategic Studies, Curatio, and others.

Contact Information:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1608444826078687/

Coordinator: Zhana Antia, Head of Training and Consulting Center

Mailsummerschool@gipa.ge

Phone: +995 032 249 75 00

Mob: +995 595 59 23 01

Address: Ietim Gurji str. 7B, 0105, Tbilisi, Georgia 


This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

https://gipa.ge/school-of-law-and-politics/geo/page/ismgeo/international-summer-school.html

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Disciplines

Political Sciences

Politics

Security

Eligible Countries

Georgia

Host Countries

Georgia