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International Summer School - Eigen-Sinn: Citizen Empowerment and "Soft" Protest in the Soviet and Post-Soviet World, 22 -30 August, 2020, Dresden Technical University, Germany

Publish Date: Jan 26, 2020

Deadline: May 15, 2020

Event Dates: from Aug 22, 2020 12:00 to Aug 30, 2020 12:00

International Summer School

Aims and scope

The modern world is moving more and more towards the direction of the state control over citizens, which leaves less space for free civil actions. Looking at the processes currently taking place in Russia, Poland, and Hungary, and even in the countries of mature democracies like the USA – where under the pretext of protection against terrorism, rights and freedoms of people are infringed –, the academics are drawing on the ever-gloomier prospects of the future of modern democracy. Nevertheless, even in the countries with a harsh system of state surveillance, as in today’s Russia, there is still space for individual freedom and for a rather consistent resistance to power. This space can be found by considering not only textbook approaches to political agency of citizens, the paradigmatic examples of which would be participation in elections and protest demonstrations, but also diverse opportunities of other, more local and less spectacular ways of dealing with power.

In the disciplines focusing on Eastern Europe and especially on Russia, the issue of organisations and activities “from below” is gaining more and more importance. Equally relevant in current research seems to be the historical comparison of the 2000s and 2010s with the traditions and practices of the communism era – an epoch, which anticipated the diversity of oppositional patterns today. In order to describe multifaceted, often non-confrontative practices and patterns of resistance in this area, the summer school uses a strongly interdisciplinary approach based on the concept of “Eigen-Sinn”. The term was coined by the German historians Alf Lüdtke and Thomas Lindenberger and draws on the polysemous meaning of the German expression, describing both stubbornness/obstinacy (that is, opposition to certain rules or demands), and one’s own/innate sense/meaning (that is, the creation of a meaningful attitude to life, especially in adverse political conditions). “Eigen-Sinn” is therefore considered as an appropriate historiographical concept for understanding individual behaviors and actions that impact the sphere of power and domination, submission and revolt, resistance and dropping out.

The main disciplinary fields upon which the summer school’s teaching sessions will be based are historical science (esp. everyday history), literary and cultural studies, sociology and political science. The program will be led by international scholars from Europe and beyond. It includes lectures, interactive seminars and group work on a wide array of themes, thereby casting light on the issue of soft resistance in the Soviet and post-Soviet world from various perspectives. Participants will have the opportunity to consolidate their theoretical and methodological skills, discuss concepts and ideas, present their own projects and network with international researchers.

Organisation and application

The summer school will take place at the Technische Universität Dresden; it is organized in cooperation with the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences.

It is open to doctoral students and postdocs from Slavic studies, East European studies, political science, (East European) history, literary and cultural studies, sociology as well as related fields and interdisciplinary contexts.

The working language will be English.

Participation, including travel to/from Dresden, accommodation and meals, will be completely funded for successful applicants subject to the condition that financial support by the Volkswagen Stiftung will be granted.

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.

 

 


This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

https://tu-dresden.de/gsw/slk/slavistik/das-institut/professuren-und-lehrbereiche/litwi/international-summer-school/?fbclid=IwAR3ulVIoViW6wlIWrPcjEjyP3osTCwx0zQF5cyrJmykKC_47G5MLye1P3EA

Similar Opportunities


Disciplines

Art History

Conflict Studies

Culture

European Studies

History

Literature

Peace Studies

Philosophy

Political Sciences

Slavic Studies

Social Sciences

Sociology

Study Levels

Doctoral

Postdoctoral

Opportunity Types

Financial aid

Study

Eligible Countries

International

Host Countries

Germany

Event Types

Lecture