The Seasonal Schools of IAPSS offer unique experiences which consist of a wide range of lectures, active discussions, and workshops, as well as one-day trips and an intriguing social program. We focus on comprehensive and engaging daily schedules, emphasising the didactic component of learning throughout the entire program.
The list of IAPSS Seasonal Schools up to date is available below.
Summer Schools
Migration is a global phenomenon, which defines the change from a home country to a foreign country. It is created by the increasing world population, compression of social spheres, inequality and social crises like war or persecution, but also in order to reach for a better standard of living. Within the dynamic process of migration occur many problems like exclusion, racism and human trafficking. Due to the relatively high standard of living and safety in Europe more and more humans are seeking to emigrate to Europe. Most of them see the Mediterranean Sea as a route within they are travelling to Europe, as the harbour of their hopes and realisation of their dreams. Many of them are trying to enter with dangerous and illegal ways, which unfortunately can cost them their life. European countries, especially countries by the Mediterranean Sea, have the responsible role to guard these lives by humanitarian aid and human rights. It is apparent that Europe needs to not only find a solution to migration challenges which concern to life-preserving measures, but it also has to provide a sustainable future for the European project itself. While the numbers of the fleeing migrants is evidently decreasing, more than 1400 people are estimated dead or missing while opting for the Mediterranean route as of July 2018.
What has to be done? Perhaps a better assessment of migration management? Addressing the roots of the key issues by unpicking the asylum cases or unravelling the origin of the conflicts by working on economic development and overall improvement of governance in the affected countries; fostering conflict prevention and guaranteeing the protection of all human rights…
Christof Roos is Senior Associate Researcher specialized in Migration and Diversity at the Institute of European Studies and teaches as an assistant professor European and Global Governance at the University of Flensburg. He gives further education on EU Migration, Asylum and border security politics at Collège d’Europe in Bruges. He worked for the European Commission’s DG Joint Research Centre in Ispra in Italy and contributed to a study about Migration from West African countries. As a high demanded chair at forums and conferences, we are proud to announce him for our lectures on Friday.
Examples of his research:
Boris Popivanov is Associate Professor of Political Science at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and Junior Researcher at NEC. He is a lecturer of Political Ideologies and Political Process, author of the monograph “Changing Images of the Left in Bulgaria” and author of a research focused on the Mediterranean youth called Political participation and inequalities among Arab Mediterranean youth.
Examples of his research:
YOUTH POLICY IN ARAB MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES IN A …
Theodoros Fouskas is a Ph.D. Sociologist, who is specialized in migration and its related irregularism, community organizations, labour and integration of third-country nationals. He currently works at the Technological Educational Institute of Athens and taught at the Hellenic School of Further Education Irregular Migration. He worked for the centre of Security Studies and in the Department of International Relations at New York College and many more educational institutions in Greece. One of his many publications was the outstanding study about the reaction of European countries to the migration crisis in cooperation with the European Commission. He will tell us more about his interesting study in cooperation with the European Migration Network (EMN) and the situation of Migrants coming to Greece on Saturday the 29th of September.
Examples of his research:
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/12a_greece_study_on_return_final_en.pdf
https://issuu.com/theodorosfouskas/docs/contemporary_immigration_in_greece_
Gaim Kibreab is the director of the Msc Refugee Studies at South Bank University London. He is specialised in forced Migration, resettlement, development, conflict and government in post-conflict societies. He has a Ph.D. degree in Social sciences and Economic History from Uppsala University. His present research focuses on the causes and consequences of forced migration in post-independent Eritrea. He is teaching Forced Migration with relation to Human Rights and Development. Therefore he will give us a really interesting introduction to those topics.
Examples of his research:
Why thousands of asylum-seekers are fleeing Eritrea and risking their lives in the Mediterranean
Leila Hadj Abdou is Research fellow at the MIGPROSP Project of the Migration Policy centre, which is studies the drivers of international migration governance. She is also working at the European Research Council (ERC) and for the Robert Schuman Centre, where she is focussing on the understandings of international migration in four world regions. Before she was a Research Fellow for Politics of Inclusion and Exclusion (INEX) at the University of Vienna, at the University of Sheffield and at the Centre for Transatlantic Studies at the John Hopkins University in Washington D.C. She studied at the University College in Dublin and CNRS Paris and has a Ph.D. in Social and Political Science from the European University Institute. Her research focuses on international migration governance, immigration and integration policies, the regulation and contestation of Muslim practices and the populist radical right. In addition, she also has practical experience in working with asylum seekers.
Examples of her research:
Motivated undergraduate and Master’s students, as well as early Ph.D. candidates, are invited to submit their applications. We will review applications as they arrive on a rolling basis. Once we receive your application, we will notify you within three working days whether the application was successful or not. Individuals interested in participating in the IAPSS Summer School 2018 are requested to submit a written application containing (1) your CV, (2) a letter of motivation (1 page). Your letter of motivation should state at least (a) your previous experiences with the topic, (b) your motivation for joining this Summer School, and (c) how this Summer School would contribute to your development. Be creative! Please note that the application process is competitive due to a limited number of tickets. The decision on admission is mainly based on the motivation letter, which is why we encourage applicants to put a special emphasis on this document.
IAPSS events are designed to be socially, culturally, religiously and politically inclusive by bringing students of political science and related disciplines from various academic backgrounds, political contexts, level of studies, age and gender together. This aims to create an interactive and multidisciplinary space of social and academic debate and interaction. Taking into account global income disparities, the IAPSS Summer School 2018 seeks to offer a student-friendly, low-cost participation fee of 199 €. This participation fee includes access to all lectures, workshops and social events, all Summer School materials, a personal IAPSS Summer School 2018 participation kit, and an official Certificate of Participation and a Certificate Supplement stating the details of your achievements. The fee has to be transferred in advance in order to confirm your participation, but only after you have been notified on successful selection. The payment can be done via credit card, PayPal and other devices through the IAPSS Webstore.
Please note that IAPSS does not offer any discount or scholarship for this event. We recommend consulting with your university/academic institution for individual financial support for participation and travel costs. Also, a range of foundations and academic institutions offer grants and scholarships for seasonal schools.
IAPSS Membership is required in order to participate in the IAPSS Summer School 2018. IAPSS Membership comes at only 15.00€ (for citizens of Europe incl. Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia) or 10 EUR (for all other countries) per year (discounted rates for two-year membership are available for 25 and 15 EUR respectively) and offers you a wide range of benefits, including priority access to IAPSS Conferences, IAPSS Delegations, and IAPSS Study Trips as well as the opportunity to participate in IAPSS’ political science journals POLITIKON and ELA – ENCUENTRO LATINOAMERICA, and the IAPSS’ IR blog A Different View. Also, members receive the biweekly IAPSS News & Opportunities condensing political science opportunities such as internships, jobs, conference calls and more. Find all information on the services we provide and how to apply here.
(Arrival Day: July 22 / Departure Day: July 30)
Download the Admission GuideThere is a complex relationship between nationalism and democracy. While democracy appears to be based on the principle of inclusivity, nationalism seems to be predicated on exclusivity. For this reason, it is usually considered that nationalism and democracy constitute competing logics, and in that vein, as nationalism endangers democracy, the two cannot exist together.
After the fall of communism, many countries in Eastern Europe embarked upon establishing democracies in divided societies, and the taming of ethnic nationalism has been one of the major tasks of democratization. In the process of democratization, most of Eastern European countries have faced various challenges. The IAPSS Summer School 2017 aims to explore some of these challenges by taking a closer look at some of the post-communist countries such as Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Georgia.
The IAPSS Summer School will be held in cooperation with the European University of Tirana in Albania enabling all participants to dive into a week-long program with various components: alongside lectures, seminars, and workshops, also readings circles and working groups are going to be held. In the evenings we are planning a documentary screening related to the theme of the Summer School as well as social activities to let off steam after the academic programme.
Albania lends itself as a perfect destination to explore nationalism and democracy as it offers many angles of looking at a spectrum of issues this Summer School is going to focus on. With its particular communist history, Albania promises also fertile ground for new questions and exciting areas to delve into.
If you are eager to learn more about the themes that this Summer School is going to examine, make sure you submit your application within the deadline to enjoy the stimulating academic programme prepared in cooperation with the leading experts in the theme. What is more, you will have a chance to meet fellow students from all over the world and embark together on a journey to intricacies of nationalism and democracy in post-communist Europe.
Students and junior researchers of all levels, but preferably at least at an advanced level of their undergraduate studies, are invited to submit their applications. Due to increased capacity, we have two extra spots available! Applications for these spots are accepted until 21 July 2017.
Do not hesitate to apply ASAP! We will review the applications on a rolling basis.
Individuals interested in participating in the IAPSS Summer School 2017 are requested to submit a written application containing (1) a CV, (2) a letter of motivation (1 page). Your letter of motivation should state at least (a) your previous experiences with the topic, (b) your motivation for joining this Summer School, and (c) how this Summer School would contribute to your development. Be creative! Please note that the application process is competitive due to a limited number of tickets. Decision on admission is mainly based on the motivation letter, which is why we encourage applicants to put a special emphasis on this document.
Please use the form below (at the bottom of this page) to submit your application. In case of any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Organizing Committee (see below) who will be glad to answer them.
Confirmed Speakers
Prof. dr. A.W.M. Gerrits (Leiden University, NLD)
Prof. dr. Siniša Malešević (University College Dublin, IRL)
Dr. Valery Perry (Independent Researcher and Consultant, BIH)
Dr. Yuliya Biletska (University of Karabük, TUR)
IAPSS events are designed to be socially, culturally, religiously and politically inclusive by bringing students of political science and related disciplines from various academic backgrounds, political contexts, level of studies, age and gender together. This aims to create an interactive and multidisciplinary space of social and academic debate and interaction. Taking into account global income disparities, the IAPSS Summer School 2017 seeks to offer a student-friendly, low-cost participation fee of 199 € (a special discount of 50 € applies for the students from the host institution, The European University of Tirana).
This participation fee includes access to all lectures, workshops and social events, all Summer School materials, a personal IAPSS Summer School 2017 participation kit, and an official Certificate of Participation and a Certificate Supplement stating the details of your achievements. The fee has to be transferred in advance in order to confirm your participation, but only after you have been notified on successful selection. The payment can be done via credit card, PayPal and other devices through the IAPSS Webstore (the details for the transfer will be available there upon acceptance).
Please note that IAPSS does not offer any discount or scholarship for this event. We recommend consulting with your university/academic institution for individual financial support for participation and travel costs. Also, a range of foundations and academic institutions offer grants and scholarships for seasonal schools. IAPSS can provide an acceptance letter to support external grant/scholarship applications of the participants.
IAPSS Membership is required in order to participate in the IAPSS Summer School 2017. IAPSS Membership comes at only 15.00€ (for citizens of Europe incl. Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia) or 10 EUR (for all other countries) per year (discounted rates for two-year membership are available for 25 and 15 EUR respectively) and offers you a wide range of benefits, including priority access to IAPSS Conferences, and IAPSS Study Trips as well as the opportunity to apply for membership in one of the IAPSS Student Research Committees or the Authorial Board of IAPSS’ academic blog A Different View. Also, members receive the biweekly IAPSS News & Opportunities.
Find all information on the services we provide and how to purchase IAPSS membership here.
Kristian Xavier Carrera Kurjenoja
Head of Events Department
Farieha Mirzada
Seasonal School Coordinator
Tobias Jerzewski
Seasonal School Coordinator
Serap Aydemir
Seasonal School Coordinator
Ukraine between ‘East and West’: Soviet Legacy, Democratization Efforts and Geopolitical Challenges
Organized by the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS)
August 8th – August 14th 2016
(Arrival Day: August 7th / Departure Day: August 15th)
Please use this form to submit your application. You can also find our FAQs here.
©Sasha MaksymenkoConcerning the particularities of Ukraine’s history, ethnicities, and geopolitics, the notion of national identity has always been a decisive element in the analyses of the country. Characterized by a turbulent post-Soviet phase over the last two decades, the Ukrainian population has experienced turmoil, revolts and war-like scenes over the past three years starting with the Euromaidan protests. As a consequence, other events unfolded such as the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych, Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the persisting violent struggles in Eastern Ukraine between Russian separatists and Ukrainian troops – an actual ceasefire not in sight. Still, long-delayed reform processes have been introduced under the new government, which was elected in 2014. However, actual success is difficult to estimate at this stage. Experts argue that Ukraine has lost parts of its territory, although Ukrainians have a stronger sense of national identity than ever before. A large variety of questions will dominate this year’s summer school in order to understand the political processes in Ukraine nowadays: What events have shaped memory construction processes in today’s Ukraine? Can Ukraine be seen as a bone of contention between Russia and the EU? How can we classify social movements in recent history such as the Orange Revolution? What is the EU’s role in democratization processes in Ukraine?
The covered topics of the summer school are as follows:
You can find more detailed descriptions on the sub-topics here.
Based on your preferred choice of the topic, 4 thematic panels will be formed. During the IAPSS Summer School 2016 all participants will be assigned to a working group, covered by at least one lecture and in discussions with experts from academia, while receiving support from workshop conductors. Members in a working group will develop a small research project related to the mentioned subtopics and will present their findings at the end of the Summer School. There is also the option to publish your work and findings in one of the IAPSS devices. Next to lectures and discussion sessions, workshops on research methods will support and sustain your argument(s) and perspective(s) over the chosen topic for the final group presentation over the work done by each working group.
The IAPSS Summer School will be held in cooperation with Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv enabling all participants to dive into a week long program with various components: along lectures, seminars and workshops, also readings circles and working groups are going to be held. Next to the academic program, visits to Kiev’s places of interest as well as evening programs in partnership with Think Tanks, foundations and social movements are part of the program. Kiev is the perfect starting point to do so. Mysterious, majestic, vibrant and simply passionate – the Eastern-European cultural centre on the Dniepr connects the charm of several hundred years of history with the character of a modern and vibrant capital city within the heart of Europe.
Are you interested in Political Science? Do you have a passion for Eastern Europe? Do you want to meet young scholars from all over the world with a shared interest? You have never been to Ukraine or Eastern Europe – or you simply need a reason to return? Just pack your bag and join us in Kiev!
Advanced undergraduate and Master’s students as well as early PhD candidates are invited to submit their applications. Applications are accepted until May, 16th. We will notify you afterwards whether the application was successful or not. Individuals interested in participating in the IAPSS Summer School 2016 are requested to submit a written application containing (1) your CV, (2) a letter of motivation (1-2 pages) and (3) a choice for a preferred topic from the list of subtopics provided above in order to be signed up in a working group during the school. Your letter of motivation should state at least (a) your previous experiences with the post-Soviet space, (b) your motivation for joining this Summer School, and (c) how this Summer School would contribute to your development. Be creative! Please note that the application process is competitive due to a limited number of tickets. Decision on admission is mainly based on the motivation letter, which is why we encourage applicants to put a special emphasis on this document.
Please use this form to do your application. You can also find FAQs here.
IAPSS events are designed to be socially, culturally, religiously and politically inclusive by bringing students of political science and related disciplines from various academic backgrounds, political contexts, level of studies, age and gender together. This aims to create an interactive and multidisciplinary space of social and academic debate and interaction. Taking into account global income disparities, the IAPSS Summer School 2016 seeks to offer a student-friendly, low-cost participation fee of 299.00€. This participation fee includes access to all lectures, workshops and social events, all summer school materials, a personal IAPSS Summer School 2016 participation kit, and an official Certificate of Participation and a Certificate Supplement stating the details of your achievements. The location of the school is easily accessible via public transport in Kiev. The fee has to be transferred in advance in order to confirm your participation, but only after you have been notified on successful selection. The payment can be done via credit cards, PayPal and other devices through the IAPSS Webstore.
Please note that IAPSS does not offer any discount or scholarship for this event. We recommend consulting with your university/academic institution for individual financial support for participation and travel costs. Also, a range of foundations and academic institutions offer grants and scholarships for seasonal schools.
IAPSS Membership is required in order to participate in the IAPSS Summer School 2016. IAPSS Membership comes at only 15 EUR (for citizens of Europe incl. Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia) or 10 EUR (for all other countries) per year (discounted rates for two-year membership are available for 25 and 15 EUR respectively) and offers you a wide range of benefits, including priority access to IAPSS Conferences, IAPSS Delegations, and IAPSS Study Trips as well as the opportunity to participate in IAPSS’ political science journals POLITIKON and ENCUENTRO LATINO AMERICA, and the IAPSS’ IR blog A Different View. Also, members receive the biweekly IAPSS News & Opportunities condensing political science opportunities such as internships, jobs, conference calls and more. Find all information on the services we provide and how to apply here.
Florian Zabel
Head of Events Department
Lisa Garbe
Seasonal School Coordinator
summerschool1@iapss.org
Tobias Jerzewski
Seasonal School Coordinator
summerschool2@iapss.org
Kristin Noack
Seasonal School Coordinator
summerschool3@iapss.org
Organized by the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS), in collaboration with Venice International University
August 11th – 20th, 2015
(Arrival: August 10th, Departure: August 21st)
Last Application Deadline: 12th June 2015
Please submit your application via this form.
San Servolo Island in Venice, venue of the IAPSS Summer School 2015
There is a rapidly growing amount literature in social sciences that explores the emergence, impacts, and responses to a diverse number of mega-catastrophes. As the world that humankind lives in becomes to be portrayed as insecure by design, one in which everyone is vulnerable, the preeminence of addressing the study of catastrophes becomes undeniable. Hence, the study of catastrophe, affected population and surroundings entails not only a high degree of familiarity with diverse theory, but also a great level of creativity and sensitivity to acknowledge the implication of different methodological choices.
Venice may be the perfect place to conduct this school. Living with the constant menace of another flood, as the sea levels keep on rising, it has permit Venetians and their local authorities to develops a strong sense of disaster prevention and resilience. The school promises to use this as a way to improve the multidisciplinarity and empirical understanding of thematic. Lectures will be delivered by e.g. Terry Cannon (Institute of Development Studies, United Kingdom), Roberto Mugavero (University of Rome, Italy), Giovanni Bettini (Lancaster Environment Centre, United Kingdom), Lauren Ugur (Frankfurt School of Management, Germany) and many more.
Students from all levels are requested to submit their application. Individuals interested in participating in the IAPSS Summer School 2015 are requested to submit a written application containing (1) a short CV (max. two pages, without photograph), (2) a letter of motivation (max. two pages) and (3) chose a preferred topic from the below provided range of topics, to be presented during the IAPSS Summer School 2015. In addition, to the presentations required, there would also be the possibility to publish the work presented in one of the IAPSS publications.
The topics addressed are as follows:
The selection process will be run on first-come-first-serve basis until the maximum number of participants has been reached. Based on your preferred choice of the topic, 9 panels will be formed. During the IAPSS Summer School 2015 all participants will work further on their topics, improved by the lectures provided and discussion among peers, while receiving support from the named workshop conductors. In this manner, the very topic will be covered by at least one lecture and in discussions with experts from the academia. Next to lectures and discussion sessions, daily workshops separated in beginners and advanced level dealing with the research methods in order to support and sustain your argument and perspective over the chosen topic.
The International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) is the worldwide representation and platform for political science students and related studies. IAPSS – politically independent, non-profit, entirely student-run and embracing more than 10.500 members from more than 80 countries – generates and promotes political science opportunities for active engagement, career development and academic proficiency through a variety of events, publications and services throughout the year.
The Venice International University (VIU) is something unique in the academic world, as it formed by group of Universities from all over the world sharing a common campus on the beautiful Island of San Servolo, in the Venice lagoon. These Universities devise study programs collegially to prepare their students to face the global challenges of today, such as the following examples sustainable development, climate change, ageing, urban growth, global ethics, cultural heritage.
→ More at: www.univiu.org.
The IAPSS Summer School 2015 will take place at the stunning location of the VIU campus on the Island of San Servolo. The Island is an oasis in a unique urban setting, 10 minutes by boat from Piazza San Marco. Students can study, work, and relax in a peaceful park spread across 12 scenic acres with a panoramic view of Venice. In addition to this, students will have an extraordinary opportunity to study under conditions that are significantly different from their normal day-to-day studying environment.
The boat from Venice to San Servolo leaves from the Riva degli Schiavoni at San Marco; the stop is in front of the Londra Palace Hotel. Boat number 20 goes to San Servolo.
Ticket prices for boat line n° 20:
Other ticket fares:
At 6:55 am there is the first boat departing from Venice, and 1:30am it is the last opportunity to return from the Island of San Servolo to Venice. Similarly, the first boat leaving the Island is at 7:05am, and the last one from Venice to the Island will take place at 1:20am. For more information visit ACTV web site (Public transports in Venice).
Accommodation is not included in the participation fee, but single, double and triple rooms can be booked at Venice International University in advance. Staying in the Island will offer a logistical advantage to all participants, which otherwise will indeed need to provide for their own transportation to and out of Island. Nonetheless, Venice offers a variety of uncounted lodging options, with diverse number of hostels offering single beds in dormitories as well as separate rooms, medium-range and high-end hotels, but also private accommodation as well as thousands of Couchsurfing and AirBnB options. AirBnb, in particular, is a great way to save costs for groups of up to 15 students as it offers entire apartments, flats and houses for modest prices. Since August is high-season in the city, we again recommend to arrange your accommodation the earliest possible to enjoy the best offers and deals.
As named already before, there will be diverse opportunities to socialize and networking. While the School privileges academic excellency it also recognizes the importance of creating an exciting social environment, which will stimulates creativity and the establishment of international friendships. A day tour in Venice will be organized, as well as, small trips that aim to have contact with local and regional authorities that work in the field of risk and disaster reduction. Additionally, documentaries screenings, sports tournaments, Oxford Style debates and a farewell dinner will also be featured among the social events of the IAPSS Summer School 2015.
Dates:
Arrival: Monday, August 10th – in Venice, San Servolo Island, until evening
Programme: Tuesday, August 11st – Thursday, 20th August
Departure: Friday, August 21th – from Venice, San Servolo, throughout the day
Costs: IAPSS events are designed to be socially, culturally, religiously and politically inclusive, by bringing students of political science and related disciplines from various academic backgrounds, political contexts, level of studies, age and gender together. This aims to create an interactive and multidisciplinary space of social and academic debate and interaction. Taking into account global income disparities, the IAPSS Summer School 2015 seeks to offer a student-friendly, low-cost participation fee of 429 EUR. This includes access to all lectures, workshops and social events, lunch, a one-day excursion to Venice as well as two half-day trips, besides all Summer School materials, a personal IAPSS Summer School 2015 participation kit, and of course an Official Certificate of Participation. The fee has to be transferred in advance in order to confirm your participation, but only after you have been notified on successful selection.
Further we recommend consulting with your university / academic institution for individual financial support for participation and travel costs. Also, a range of foundations and academic institutions offer grants and scholarships for seasonal schools. If selected, please inform us as soon as possible in case you are in need of a pre-arranged visa for Italy. We will provide you with a personalised invitation letter, respectively.
Further remarks: Similarly, to other seasonal schools accommodation and travel expenses are not included in the participation fee. In consequence, please note that you will have to arrange transportation to the Island of San Servolo by yourself, and that IAPSS does not cover travel expenses of public transport (including the use of ferries) in Venice, including the tickets for social and cultural events. This means that, even though, tickets for museums and cultural venues will be provided the tickets for public transportation will be bought individually.
Please note that IAPSS membership is required in order to participate in the IAPSS Winter School 2015. IAPSS membership comes at only 15 EUR (for citizens of Europe incl. Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia) or 10 EUR (for all other countries) a year and offers you a wide range of benefits, including priority access to IAPSS conferences, IAPSS delegations, and IAPSS study trips as well as the opportunity to participate in IAPSS’ political science journals POLITIKON and A Different View. Also, members receive the two-monthly IAPSS News & Opportunities condensing political science opportunities such as internships, jobs, conference calls and more. Please consult our website (www.iapss.org) for more information. Discounted rates for 2-year membership are available.
Do you wish to get comprehensive and interdisciplinary insights into the politics of mega-catastrophes? If the answer is yes, then APPLY for the IAPSS Summer School 2015 in Venice!
Do not hesitate to contact Filipa Brandao at summerschool@iapss.org in case you have any questions or inquiries.
Cancellation policy for study trips and seasonal schools
The Summer School in Venice has been carefully budgeted to keep costs as low as we can for participants. This means that cancellation can be problematic, in particular when IAPSS has already made payments for parts of the Summer School in Venice programme or for practical arrangements. Requests for a reimbursements will therefore be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We cannot guarantee a reimbursement, but we will do our best to refund any of your fee which we have not already committed to payments in Venice. If you have any queries please contact your study trip coordinator.
Winter Schools
Organised by the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) in cooperation with the Centre International de Formation Européenne (CIFE)
19th – 25th of February 2018
(Arrival Day: 18 February / Departure Day: 26 February)
Important Note: Please use the form at the bottom of this page to submit your application. Applications will be scanned and evaluated from December 1st onwards and applicants will be notified on admission until December 7th. Late applications are possible and accepted on a rolling basis, but have no guarantee to be considered in the assessment process. A timely submission of the application is advised.
This IAPSS-CIFE Winter School examines the variety in social, political and economic conditions of countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and its implications on the Arab uprisings and vice versa. The Winter School will focus on case studies from our host country Tunisia but will also look beyond its borders. The Winter School allows students to gain in-depth knowledge of the region through lectures from academics as well as local and international NGO’s. We will also apply the newest the methods such as design thinking for policy-making.
The head topic “The MENA region in International Relations: Power, Politics and Ideology“ features the following four subtopics:
(1) Democratization and Regime Changes in the Aftermath of the Arab Spring
This topic is important to understand the domestic and regional factors that have led to the perceived failures and successes of the Arab uprisings of 2011. It also serves to understand why some countries did not witness an uprising at all despite initial protests and are still resilient to potential uprisings.
(2) Political Economy and Economic reform in the MENA-Region: Labor, Rents and Capital
This subtopic deals with the political economy in different sectors and policy fields. It explores the major developmental challenges in the region, such as long-term growth trends, demographic change, education, labor markets, urbanization, water and agriculture.
(3) Security and Power Politics: New Perspectives on Regional Hegemony
Geopolitics play a large role in the domestic situation of countries that are going through a political and social transition. This subtopic offers a macro perspective on the MENA region and aims to set the Arab uprisings in an international context. The question of how far regional issues influence domestic politics is important to understand why countries do what they do and how alliances in the Middle East are formed.
(4) Technology and Telecommunication: Creation and Decay of Revolutions
This topic focuses on the history of technology in resistances in the Middle East and North Africa; how it has developed itself and influenced the political participation. Topics such as telecommunication policy, intelligence and domestic security or digitization may be covered by this subtopic based on the interest of participants.
Youssef Cherif is Deputy-Director of Columbia Global Centers | Tunis. Youssef is a member of Carnegie’s Civic Activism Network, and a Valdai Club expert. He was previously the Al-Maidan Libya Project manager at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), and an expert affiliated to the Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies (ITES). He consulted for the Arab Institute for Business Managers (IACE, on Tunisian foreign policy), the UN (implementing the SDG’s in Tunisia and writing the country report), The Carter Center in Tunisia (political affairs), etc. Youssef holds a Chevening Master of Arts in International Relations from the Dept. of War Studies of King’s College London, and a Fulbright Master of Arts in Classical Studies from Columbia University.
Dr. Adam Hanieh is a senior lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London and the author of Lineages of Revolt: Issues of Contemporary Capitalism in the Middle East. Prior to joining SOAS, Adam taught at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. From 1997-2003, he worked in the NGO and public sectors in Ramallah, Palestine, where he completed an MA in Regional Studies at Al Quds University. He holds a PhD in Political Science from York University, Canada (2009). His research interests include political economy of the Middle East; labour migration; class and state formation in the Gulf Cooperation Council; Palestine. He is an international advisory board member for the journal Studies in Political Economy.
Dr. Mohamed Limam is Assistant Professor in Political Science at the University of Jendouba, Tunisia, and a Research Associate at the BORDERLANDS Project, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. His main areas of interests and expertise are EU migration policy toward the Maghreb countries and Tunisian politics. He is one of 246 country experts who contributed to the last edition of the Transformation Index, BTI 2016 and the country report on Tunisia of the Bertelsmann Stiftung. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the Faculty of Law and Political Science, Al-Manar University, Tunis.
Dr. Pawel Pustelnik holds a PhD from Cardiff University. He graduated from Social Science Research Methods Masters at Cardiff University as well as from Masters in Global Environmental Governance at Free University in Amsterdam. He also studied International Relations and Diplomacy (BA) at Wroclaw University, Wyszynski University in Warsaw and La Sapienza in Rome. Pawel will be the Lead Coach for the Research Labs and aims to develop bulletproof research proposals with the students.
Florian Zabel works in the areas of innovation management and project design for the German Development Agency (GIZ) in Berlin. Florian holds a Master’s in Political Science and International Development from Humboldt-University of Berlin and Sciences Po Paris. Additionally, he has been educated at the School of Design Thinking of the Hasso-Plattner-Institute and seeks utilize Design Thinking for policy reform and governance innovation. Previously, he has lived in Egypt and Jordan working for GIZ and UNDP on innovation and digitalization in different policy areas (esp. financial, economic and social policy). Florian will be Lead Coach for the Policy Labs focusing on tackling urgent policy challenges in the MENA region with a design thinking approach.
This year’s IAPSS-CIFE Winter School will be held in cooperation with the Centre International de Formation Européenne (CIFE) in Tunis enabling all participants to dive into a week-long programme with various components: lectures, seminars, research and policy labs. In the evenings we have planned a documentary screening related to the theme of the Winter School as well as social activities to let off steam after the academic programme.
Tunisia lends itself as a perfect destination to explore the changing political reality in the Middle East and North Africa and its underlying causes. Furthermore, it is interesting to examine the process of democratization in Tunisia, which is considered to be the only true democracy in North Africa after the downfall of its authoritarian regime. If you are eager to learn more about the subtopics that this year’s Winter School is going to present, make sure you submit your application within the deadline to enjoy the stimulating academic programme prepared in cooperation with the leading experts in the theme. What is more, you will have a chance to meet fellow students from all over the world and experience Tunisia’s rich and hospitable culture.
Students and junior researchers of all levels, but preferably at least at an advanced level of their undergraduate studies, are invited to submit their applications.
Individuals interested in participating in the IAPSS-CIFE Winter School 2018 are requested to submit a written application containing a CV, a letter of motivation (max. 1 page). Your letter of motivation should state at least (a) your previous experiences with the topic, (b) your motivation for joining this Winter School, and (c) how this Winter School would contribute to your development. Be creative! Please note that the application process is competitive due to a limited number of tickets. Decision on admission is mainly based on the motivation letter, which is why we encourage applicants to put a special emphasis on this document.
Please use the form below (at the bottom of this page) to submit your application. In case of any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Organizing Committee (see below) who will be glad to answer them.
An academically challenging programme consisting of lectures, seminars and hands-on workshops in a highly interactive and vibrant setting contributing to the personal and academic development of each participant. Lab-formats will apply design thinking for rapid prototyping of research proposals and policy strategies.
Discussing and debating with a range of experts in the field of the MENA region and across different policy fields as well as getting first-hand insights on their current research and teaching methods.
Meeting fellow students and researchers from all over the world interested in a joint multi-perspective examination of the topics addressed.
Exploring sprawling Tunis and its surroundings as well as a variety of social events.
What else to expect? Much more!
IAPSS events are designed to be socially, culturally, religiously and politically inclusive by bringing students of political science and related disciplines from various academic backgrounds, political contexts, level of studies, age and gender together. This aims to create an interactive and multidisciplinary space of social and academic debate and interaction. Taking into account global income disparities, the IAPSS-CIFE Winter School 2018 seeks to offer a student-friendly, low-cost participation fee of €199. Travel and accommodation costs are not included in the participation fee. Students from local Tunisian universities (exl. expats) can apply for a tuition waiver. Please write to Farieha Mirzada at seasonalschools@iapss.org if you would like to apply for a waiver. Applications for waivers will be considered after the application for the Winter School has been completed.
This participation fee includes access to all lectures, workshops, participation in a research OR policy lab and social events, all Winter School materials, a personal IAPSS-CIFE Winter School 2018 participation kit, and an official Certificate of Participation and a Certificate Supplement stating the details of your achievements. However, please consult with your programme coordinator, if the school can be accounted for your regular studies. IAPSS is supportive in case any further documentation is needed.
The participation fee has to be transferred in advance in order to confirm your participation, but only after you have been notified on successful selection. The payment can be done via credit card, PayPal and other devices through the IAPSS Webstore (the details for the transfer will be available there upon acceptance). After admission, the fee should be transferred by December 31st, 2017. Later payments are possible upon request and individual agreement.
Please note that IAPSS does not offer any discount or scholarship for this event (with the exception of Tunisian residents). We recommend consulting with your university/academic institution for individual financial support for participation and travel costs. Also, a range of foundations and academic institutions offer grants and scholarships for seasonal schools. IAPSS can provide an acceptance letter to support external grant/scholarship applications of the participants.
IAPSS Membership is required in order to participate in the programme. IAPSS Membership comes at only €15.00 (for citizens of Europe incl. Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia) or €10 (for all other countries) per year (discounted rates for two-year membership are available for €25 and €15 respectively) and offers you a wide range of benefits, including priority access to IAPSS Conferences, and IAPSS Study Trips as well as the opportunity to apply for membership in one of the IAPSS Student Research Committees or the Authorial Board of IAPSS’ academic blog A Different View. Also, members receive the biweekly IAPSS News & Opportunities.
Find all information on the services we provide and how to purchase IAPSS membership here.
Ms. Farieha Mirzada
Head of Winter School
Leiden University
Mr. Thierry Smit
Seasonal School Coordinator
Leiden University
Youssef Cherif is Deputy-Director of Columbia Global Centers | Tunis. Youssef is a member of Carnegie’s Civic Activism Network, and a Valdai Club expert. He was previously the Al-Maidan Libya Project manager at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), and an expert affiliated to the Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies (ITES). He consulted for the Arab Institute for Business Managers (IACE, on Tunisian foreign policy), the UN (implementing the SDG’s in Tunisia and writing the country report), The Carter Center in Tunisia (political affairs), etc. Youssef holds a Chevening Master of Arts in International Relations from the Dept. of War Studies of King’s College London, and a Fulbright Master of Arts in Classical Studies from Columbia University.
Dr. Adam Hanieh is a senior lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London and the author of Lineages of Revolt: Issues of Contemporary Capitalism in the Middle East. Prior to joining SOAS, Adam taught at Zayed University, United Arab Emirates. From 1997-2003, he worked in the NGO and public sectors in Ramallah, Palestine, where he completed an MA in Regional Studies at Al Quds University. He holds a PhD in Political Science from York University, Canada (2009). His research interests include political economy of the Middle East; labour migration; class and state formation in the Gulf Cooperation Council; Palestine. He is an international advisory board member for the journal Studies in Political Economy.
Dr. Mohamed Limam is Assistant Professor in Political Science at the University of Jendouba, Tunisia, and a Research Associate at the BORDERLANDS Project, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. His main areas of interests and expertise are EU migration policy toward the Maghreb countries and Tunisian politics. He is one of 246 country experts who contributed to the last edition of the Transformation Index, BTI 2016 and the country report on Tunisia of the Bertelsmann Stiftung. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the Faculty of Law and Political Science, Al-Manar University, Tunis.
Dr. Pawel Pustelnik holds a PhD from Cardiff University. He graduated from Social Science Research Methods Masters at Cardiff University as well as from Masters in Global Environmental Governance at Free University in Amsterdam. He also studied International Relations and Diplomacy (BA) at Wroclaw University, Wyszynski University in Warsaw and La Sapienza in Rome. Pawel will be the Lead Coach for the Research Labs and aims to develop bulletproof research proposals with the students.
Florian Zabel works in the areas of innovation management and project design for the German Development Agency (GIZ) in Berlin. Florian holds a Master’s in Political Science and International Development from Humboldt-University of Berlin and Sciences Po Paris. Additionally, he has been educated at the School of Design Thinking of the Hasso-Plattner-Institute and seeks utilize Design Thinking for policy reform and governance innovation. Previously, he has lived in Egypt and Jordan working for GIZ and UNDP on innovation and digitalization in different policy areas (esp. financial, economic and social policy). Florian will be Lead Coach for the Policy Labs focusing on tackling urgent policy challenges in the MENA region with a design thinking approach.
This overview of frequently asked questions aims to provide you with detailed information on the application and admission process. Please feel free to raise any additional question or clarification by sending us an eMail to seasonalschools@iapss.org
Pre-Application Information
1) How much is the participation fee?
The participation fee is 199,00€. Our staff is working voluntary to organize the school to maintain a student-friendly price while offering a program that can compete with leading seasonal schools programs for political sciences students. Therefore, the paid amount will be spent directly on the program: venue, lecturers, workshop conductors, materials, etc. Next to these shared costs, it also includes individual costs for social events. Our events are organized from students for students.
2) Who is eligible to apply?
The majority of students are in the advanced undergraduate and master’s level, which also equals the core target group of IAPSS. Young professional and early PhD candidates may also join from universities all over the world based on the assessment of their motivation. Participants usually already have already a strong interest in the respective topic or contemplate to seek it as their academic and/or professional specialization afterwards. Based on our experience, participants were able to use our program to get clarity on their future career by finding a branch for future studies, a platform for publications or getting active in IAPSS itself. The possibilities are vast and individuality is a high value in our programs. Our staff will make sure that you gain most out of your experience with us.
3) Is the program too academically challenging for me?
Don’t underestimate yourself. Even a PhD candidate on geopolitics has maybe never dealt with political Islam, while you may already be an expert in the field as an advanced undergraduate, because you wrote your bachelor’s thesis and multiple course papers on this topic. Our didactical concept will enable a fruitful discussion beyond academic level. However, the selection process will be highly competitive. Our selection committee will take care of an adequate academic, regional and gender balance. And by the way: We will not be just sitting in a class room, but we will also explore Tunis as much as we can! Please also note: The program is highly interactive and requires the willingness to engage in group work. Every participant is obliged to participate in a lab format (research track or policy track) and is supposed to deliver a group output on the last day of the program.
5) Do I need to take part in a so-called lab format?
Yes, it’s obligatory. Don’t be scared! The aim of the lab formats is to gather people with the same interests in the Middle East and North Africa – only separate by the approach they are taking (research or policy). The coordinators on-site will guide you through the two day long group setting. The working groups are also an opportunity to experience an entirely new field and engage in co-creative processes.
6) What are the language requirements?
The program is entirely conducted in English. Student whose mother tongue is not English do not need to submit an evidence of English language, but we count on your self-evaluation. A well written motivational letter is already a good indicator to assess someone’s language skills. Our program has a limited amount of spots to offer highly interactive sessions with in-depth and fruitful discussions – good English skills are obligatory for successful participation. Participants are requested to ‘participate’ actively in the sessions and should be able to communicate sufficiently in English. If you have any official certificates or scores, feel free to mark them in your CV in the application process and/or upload them for us.
7) Is there an application fee?
No, IAPSS does not charge an application fee. In case any fraud cases come to your notice, please contact us immediately.
8) Is accommodation provided?
No, since the past has shown that different participants have different needs and budgets. We recommend to use ordinary booking platforms such as booking.com, Airbnb and hostelworld to browse for accommodation and book accordingly. In the month of February, prices for accommodation are modest. Also think about more social accommodation options such as couchsurfing. In your admission mail, you will find a link to a facebook group, where you can connect to other participants. Use this forum to seek fellows for a shared apartment – past experience has also shown that 10 people gather to rent an apartment and pay a very low daily rate.
Selection Process
1) How long will it take until I know if I have been accepted to the program?
Applications will be reviewed after the deadline within seven working days. Please note that we will only review complete applications including the required documents.
2) How will I be notified about the outcome of my application?
We will notify you via eMail as soon as a decision is reached. Please make sure that you are regularly checking your eMails in this period. There might be a small amount of people who will be placed on a waiting list and will be notified respectively with further information on this procedure.
3) I would like to travel and explore the city instead of attending lectures. Is this possible?
We will not coerce anyone to stay in the seminar rooms, if the person does not wish so. However, you will be investing time and money in this school, and attending the programm is an integral part of the experience. Based on admission, we will send you a link to a Facebook group, where you can get in contact with your fellow participants. If you want to travel around and explore, we recommend doing this before or after the school – use the Facebook group to find your travel mates. This always works out and a lot of long-term friendships have been established! Please note that the program does also include cultural and social events (tbd), so we will not sit in the seminar room all the time.
Visa
1) Do I need a visa to take part in the IAPSS Winter School?
To check whether or not you need a visa to Tunisia, please check with the Tunisian representation in your country.
2) Do I get a visa invitation letter?
An individualized visa invitation letter will be issued by IAPSS after successful payment via the IAPSS Webstore. The participation fee has to be paid beforehand, so IAPSS has a security against visa fraud cases. Students who require a visa are requested to pay the participation fee as soon as possible after admission to ensure a convenient visa process. IAPSS will offer help throughout the entire visa issue process.
After admission
1) When do I have to pay the participation fee?
It is recommended to pay the participation fee as soon as possible to guarantee your place in the program. The payment deadline is January 2nd, 2018 for those that have gained admission to the program in the first week of September. The usual time frame is five days after admission, please notify us if the payment process is delayed or you encounter any other financial problems. Please contact seasonalschools@iapss.org with a reasoning in case you want to make a request for a later payment.
2) Can I pay with credit card?
Yes, we highly recommend using this payment method as it is quicker and more secure than other methods. All major credit cards are accepted. Other payment methods include PayPal, Sofortüberweisung, iDeal, etc. – choose the most appropriate for you. Please note that an small fee between 0,5%-3% is automatically charged for transaction fees by the provider of the respective payment method.
3) What should I do if my credit card gets rejected?
Please contact us on winterschool@iapss.org with a detailed description of the problem in order to identify any technical problem in your system before advising you to contact your credit institute.
4) I come from a country where PayPal is not available, and I don’t have a credit card. How can I still pay for my ticket?
Please note that we also accept selected Visa and MasterCard debit cards. In case you do not possess of either, please contact us at finances@iapss.org for alternative payment methods (e.g. wire transfer or WesternUnion). We have members from 90 different countries in the world and have always found a way to make a payment possible.
5) Does IAPSS offer any financial help or scholarships for admitted students?
IAPSS is a voluntarily student-run organization. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer any financial assistance or specific discounts. Please check funding options already after submitting your application with the international office of your home university.
6) Can IAPSS provide me with accommodation?
No, unfortunately not. However, we encourage you to check airbnb or couchsurfing for a more authentic and cheap accommodation.
7) Can I cancel my ticket and get it refunded?
If, for any reason, you cannot attend the Convention, restitution of your participation fee (or a part of it) is conditional and subject to deadlines.
(a) If you cancel your participation after payment until, December 31st, 2017, IAPSS will refund 80% of the already paid fee. If you cancel your participation after this date you will only be refunded upon individual case decision.
(b) In case of a rejected visa application, reimbursement of your ticket will be decided upon on a case by case basis. The responsibility for fees and timely application for a visa remains with the participant, and IAPSS is not liable for any fees incurred by the participant due to a rejected visa application. If IAPSS sees that the visa application process was purposely delayed, we may not be able to reimburse the fee after December 31st, 2017. The past experience has shown that with our support, visa application are nearly always successful, if participant start their application as early as possible. Please try to settle to visa issue until December 31st, 2017, to avoid any financial damage.
After the program
1) What documents will I receive upon my successful completion of the program?
Participants will receive a printed formal certificate with a seal as well as a certificate supplement, which states the achievements and details of the participants.
2) When will I received the certificate?
The certificates will be awarded after the final group presentation, which is the final assessment of the school and marks its end. Certificates will be made electronically available on request.
3) Do I get ECTS credits?
If you want to have the IAPSS Winter School on the transcript of your home university, we recommend you to get in contact with your academic advisor to discuss the opportunity to do so. The organizational committee will provide you with any necessary information or document to support this process. The program will equal 75-80 hours of work including attendance of seminars, workshops and trips; preparatory readings and participation in a working group with a final group examination. This workload equals 2-4 ECTS credits depending on the regulations of your home university and the level of your studies. We are in negotiation with CIFE to issue accredited ECTS credits for every participants via a certificate.
4) Will I be able to access course materials after the program?
Yes, our eLearning facility will be permanently available after the program.
Facebook Event Page
Admission guide
All armed conflicts are gendered: “A gender neutral discourse may conceal that the post-war period [is] crowded with gendered decisions” (Enloe 1993: 261). Both women and men suffer from traumas, abuses and loss of control caused by war, but the impact of these factors is experienced differently by women and men. Gender roles become even more important during armed conflict, and women are disproportionately and uniquely affected by sexual violence. Yet, in post-conflict settings, women are often excluded from decision making while they are the ones who can make a significant contribution to conflict prevention. Equally important is the issue of ev er-changing gender roles in the post-conflict period.
In 2000, with the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), the United Nations (UN) recognised for the first time that conflicts have a unique gender dimension due to the different ways in which both men and women experience and suffer trauma and injury in those situations. The Resolution signalled a commitment by the UN to take gender dimension into account and undertook to include a number of actions, such as gender mainstreaming in peacekeeping missions. This was introduced to ensure that future conflict-related operations recognise potential gender discrimination issues emerging from UN involvement. Even though UN Women acknowledges that the inclusion of women in peace processes is likely to bring about a more lasting peace than if women are excluded from the process, there is no guarantee of an inclusive approach.
The approach to the main theme of gender in conflict and peacebuilding processes is two-fold. On the one hand, we will deal with the theoretical assumptions of gender in International Relations. On the other hand, we will include empirical cases and regional experiences with gender in conflict and peacebuilding, such as Cyprus and the former Yugoslavian countries.
Since the summer school will take place in Cyprus, this example will play a prominent role. We plan a field trip together with an NGO to get an in-depth insight into the practical side of women’s involvement in the peace process. In light of the fact that the peace process was reignited last year and talks are still ongoing, IAPSS could not choose a better time for organising a conference in Cyprus. There will be two main themes during the Winter School:
1) gender-based violence in conflicts
2) gender in (post-conflict) peacebuilding
During the IAPSS Winter School 2017 participants will research, examine and discuss a large variety of crucial issues related to the role of gender in conflict and peacebuilding.
Structure
The IAPSS Winter School is scheduled to take place from February 18th– 25th 2017, in Northern Cyprus. Students will arrive a day prior to beginning of the academic programme and depart no earlier than February 26th. Every participant will be required to prepare individually for the Winter School by reading the literature provided by the lecturers and preparing reading-based questions in advance. Moreover, every participant will be asked to indicate their topic of preference in order to assign them to a thematic working group. Based on this, a division in working groups will be made. During the Winter School all participants will work on their specific group topic. The participants will gain further knowledge through lectures and workshops on the different topics. At the end of the winter school every group presents their outcome in a presentation. After the Winter School, it is up to the participants to work further on their project, for example by writing a research paper, which could be published in IAPSS flagship journal POLITIKON or establish academically supervised student research committees in the existing IAPSS framework. Another possibility could be to organise a panel on the topic for the next IAPSS World Congress in Budapest 2017.
Participants of the Winter School will be selected based on their applications, containing a short CV, motivation letter and abstract about a preferred theme from the list provided by the organizers. After the selection process, students will receive a literature package. Participants are requested to send their individual questions regarding their topic in advance to the Winter School to the IAPSS Organizing Committee (OC). The OC will collect the data and submit the questions to the lecturers. The group will be divided into several groups, each of which has a different thematic focus. Furthermore, we propose different approaches in our methodological workshops. Every topic will be covered by at least one lecture and two seminars during the Winter School.
The exact structure of the program will be finalized soon.
Friday, 17 February: Arrival in Cyprus, meet-up in an informal setting in the evening
Saturday, 18 February: Formal Introduction to Summer School and IAPSS, keynote lecture
Sunday, 19 February: : Lecture (A1) and seminars, Working Groups Meetings
Monday, 20 February: Lecture (B1)and seminars, Documentary Screening
Tuesday, 21 February: Lecture (A2) and seminars, Working Groups meetings
Wednesday, 22 February: Lecture (B2) and seminars, Working Groups Meeting
Thursday, 23 February: Field Trip
Friday, 24 February: Closing Lecture and Roundtable Discussion, Working Groups meetings
Saturday, 25 February: Presentation of Projects, Wrap-Up Session
Sunday, 26 February: Departure from Cyprus
The timeline for the organization of this Winter School will roughly be as follows:
7 November 2016: Launch of Call for Applications
28 November: Deadline for Applications
7 December 2017: Final deadline for Applications (if CfA extended)
mid December 2017: Selection of participants, set-up of waiting list
30 December 2016: Deadline for payments of participation fees
Beginning February 2017: Sending out literature
15 February 2017: Arrival of OC in Cyprus
Budget and Funding
The participation fees that the students pay themselves will cover a large part of the expenses of the summer school. The participation fee is around 300€. However, in order to make participation in the Winter School accessible to a large number of students from all over the world, we are highly dependent on the support and sponsoring of our local partner institution. This support could include the venue for lectures, seminars and workshops.
Organizing Committee
Kristian Xavier Carrera Kurjenoja
Head of Events Department
events@iapss.org
Serap Aydemir
Seasonal School Coordinator
winterschool@iapss.org
Pawel Pustelnik
Seasonal School/Study Trip Coordinator
studytrips2@iapss.org
Kristin Noack
Seasonal School Coordinator
summerschool3@iapss.org
Organized by the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) in collaboration with Takamul Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies and Research
February 27th – March 5th 2016
(Arrival Day: February 26th / Departure Day: March 6th)
Please use this form to submit your application. You can also find our FAQs here.
View on Djemaa el-Fnaa: Marrakech’s central square turns into a vibrant spectacle at night
Revolutions and Regime Changes: The Arab World has witnessed a turning point in its history with the uprisings in 2011. Although a favorite topic among young academics and political science scholars, a deep understanding of what has happened and what is currently happening in this region is still lacking due to, among many other reasons, a lack of communication with people who have experienced the last four years up close. This winter school aims at closing this gap and gaining an in-depth understanding for interested young academics. Our winter school in Morocco is a perfect opportunity to get a close look at how the events of these last years have influenced and brought about not only political, but social changes that can be observed in civil society, youth work, media outlets and even in street art. As events in the Arab World unfold at an exceedingly fast pace, and as these events have not only a regional but a global impact due to new rising actors, it is essential for students of political science to get to know these countries by visiting the region and getting in contact with academic as well as as public and private stakeholders in addition to civil society actors. The covered topics of the winter school are as follows:
1. Revolutions and Counter-revolutions
2. Geopolitics and Regional Hegemony
3. Threats to Security: Terrorism, Salafism and Jihadism?
4. Evolution of Political Islam and its Influence in the Region
5. Migration and Refugee Politics in Maghreb
You can find more detailed descriptions on the sub-topics here.
Based on your preferred choice of the topic, 5 thematic panels will be formed. During the IAPSS Winter School 2016 all participants will be assigned to a working groups, improved by the lectures covered by at least one lecture and in discussions with experts from academia, while receiving support from workshop conductors. Members in a working group will develop a small research project related to the mentioned subtopics and will present their findings at the end of the Winter School. There is also the option to publish your work and findings in one of the IAPSS devices. Next to lectures and discussion sessions, workshops on research methods will support and sustain your argument(s) and perspective(s) over the chosen topic for the final group presentation over the work done by each working group.
The IAPSS Winter School 2016 will be held in cooperation with Takamul Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies and Research enabling all participants to dive into a week long program with various components: along lectures, seminars and workshops, also readings circles and working groups are going to be held. Next to the academic program, visits to the Old Medina and the hinterland as well as instutional visits are part of the program. Marrakech is the perfect starting point to do so. Mysterious, vibrant and simply stunning – the Red City near the Atlas Mountains is still an untouched destination for mass tourisms, but a perfect destination for restless travellers and people seeking a unique adventure inspired by the ancient cultural life of the city.
Are you interested in Political Science? Do you have a passion for the Middle East? Do you want to meet young scholars from all over the world with a shared interest? You have never been to Morocco or the Middle East – or you simply need a reason to return? Just pack your bag and join us in Marrakech!
Advanced undergraduate and Master’s students as well as early PhD candidates are invited to submit their applications. The application process will start after the elapsed deadline. Applicants will be notified within five working days. Individuals interested in participating in the IAPSS Winter School 2016 are requested to submit a written application containing (1) your CV, (2) a letter of motivation (1-2 pages) and (3) a choice for a preferred topic from the list of subtopics provided below in order to be signed up in a working group during the school. Your letter of motivation should state at least (a) your previous experiences with the Middle East, (b) your motivation for joining this Winter School, and (c) how this Winter School would contribute to your development. Be creative! Please note that the application process is competitive due to a limited number of tickets. Decision on admission is mainly based on the motivation letter, which is why we encourage applicants to put a special emphasis on this document.
Please use this form to do your application. You can also find FAQs here.
Salma H. Soliman (Free University of Berlin, Germany)
IAPSS Seasonal School Coordinator
winterschool2@iapss.org
Kristian Xavier Carrera Kurjenoja (University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
IAPSS Seasonal School Coordinator
winterschool3@iapss.org
Florian Zabel (Sciences Po Paris, France)
Head of IAPSS Events Department
events@iapss.org
The International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) is the worldwide representation and platform for political science students and related studies. IAPSS – politically independent, non-profit, entirely student-run and embracing more than 1.200 individual and about 10.000 collective members from more than 100 countries – generates and promotes political science opportunities for active engagement, career development and academic proficiency for students of political science and related disciplines throughout a variety of events, publications and services throughout the year.
The Takamul Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies and Research (مركز تكامل للدراسات والأبحاث) is a newly established centre, which seeks to enhance scholarship among the Middle Eastern countries and beyond. Founded only in 2015, it has already shown by organizing many international conferences that they are able to strengthen the systematic study of the Middle East region.
IAPSS events are designed to be socially, culturally, religiously and politically inclusive by bringing students of political science and related disciplines from various academic backgrounds, political contexts, level of studies, age and gender together. This aims to create an interactive and multidisciplinary space of social and academic debate and interaction. Taking into account global income disparities, the IAPSS Winter School 2016seeks to offer a student-friendly, low-cost participation fee of 359.00 €. This participation fee includes access to all lectures, workshops and social events, lunch, all winter school materials, a personal IAPSS Winter School 2016 participation kit, and an official Certificate of Participation and a Certificate Supplement stating the details of your achievements. Accommodation can be booked via IAPSS, but can also be self-arranged. The location of the school is easily accessible via busses in Marrakech. The fee has to be transferred in advance in order to confirm your participation, but only after you have been notified on successful selection. The payment can be done via credit cards, PayPal and other devices through the IAPSS Webstore.
Please note that IAPSS does not offer any discount or scholarship for this event. We recommend consulting with your university/academic institution for individual financial support for participation and travel costs. Also, a range of foundations and academic institutions offer grants and scholarships for seasonal schools.
IAPSS Membership is required in order to participate in the IAPSS Winter School 2016. IAPSS Membership comes at only 15 EUR (for citizens of Europe incl. Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia) or 10 EUR (for all other countries) per year (discounted rates for two-year membership are available for 25 and 15 EUR respectively) and offers you a wide range of benefits, including priority access to IAPSS Conferences, IAPSS Delegations, and IAPSS Study Trips as well as the opportunity to participate in IAPSS’ political science journals POLITIKON and ENCUENTRO LATINO AMERICA, and the IAPSS’ IR blog A Different View. Also, members receive the biweekly IAPSS News & Opportunities condensing political science opportunities such as internships, jobs, conference calls and more. Find all information on the services we provide and how to apply here.
You attended the IAPSS Winter School 2016 and need further documentation of your participation or support regarding your paper? Do you have questions or inquiries regarding the IAPSS Winter School 2016? Then do not hesitate to contact us at: winterschool@iapss.org.
Please use this form to submit your application. You can also find FAQs here.
Organized by the International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) & hosted by The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Sakarya University
February 1st – February 7th, 2015
(Arrival Day: January 31st, Departure Day: February 8th)
Over the course of the last decades, Turkey has undergone an intensive political, societal and economic transformation. Situated in both Europe and Asia, Turkey is embedded in a highly dynamic and conflict-dominated region. Long-lasting internal and cross-border conflicts incl. the Kurdish separatist movement, Turkey’s democratisation and the division of Cyprus, as well as recent ones, with the emergence of IS till to Turkish borders and Turkey’s role as disputed emerging energy transit corridor have been defining both its internal and foreign policy.
Granted with candidate status for the European Union in 1999, the country has been since in a challenging negotiation process. Throughout the last decade, civil society in the country has become more visible and active in political debate, with the Gezi Park protests gaining international attention in 2013. Rapid economic growth has put Turkey on the first place of the fastest growing economies in Europe and Western Asia since 2011, also resulting in a greater regional economic integration and socio-economic vulnerability.
How did it happen? What are the determining factors and transitional processes? What are the leading actors and institutions? And what are the consequences on the short- and long-term?
During the IAPSS Winter School 2015, participants researched, examined and discussed on a large variety of crucial topics in political science regarding Turkey, the Middle East and its interconnection with Europe, in order to understand its domestic and foreign policy, the country’s economic development, Turkish civil society as well as its role in regional conflicts, trade and integration.
Individuals interested in participating in the IAPSS Winter School 2015 were requested to submit a written application containing:
The topics addressed were as follows:
Based on the participants’ preferred choice of the topic, a division into six teams was made. During the IAPSS Winter School 2015 all participants worked further on their topics individually as well as in their teams. Every topic was covered by at least one lecture and in discussions with experts from the academia. Next to lectures and discussion sessions, daily workshops dealing with the methodology of academic research and writing aimed at enhancing social science research methods in order to strengthen the research design and paper draft of each attendee.
Call for Applications: December 15th / January 15th (for students residing in Turkey only)
Arrival: Saturday, January 31st – to Sakarya University, throughout the day
Academic Program: Sunday, February 1st – Saturday, February 7th
Departure: Sunday, February 8th– from Sakarya University, throughout the day
Category A: 150,00 EUR (ca. 420,00 TRY) – only for students from Sakarya University
This includes lunch, a one-day excursion to Istanbul, all IAPSS Winter School 2015 reading and research materials, a personal IAPSS Winter School 2015 participation kit, access to all program components and social events in the evening as well as an official certificate of participation.
Category B: 280,00 EUR (ca. 785,00 TRY) – for other Turkish students & students residing in Turkey
This includes accommodation in Sakarya (8 nights), all meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners), a one-day excursion to Istanbul, all IAPSS Winter School 2015 reading and research materials, a personal IAPSS Winter School 2015 participation kit, access to all program components and social events in the evening as well as an official certificate of participation.
Category C: 370,00 EUR – for international students
This includes accommodation in Sakarya (8 nights), all meals (breakfasts, lunches, dinners), a one-day excursion to Istanbul, all IAPSS Winter School 2015 reading and research materials, a personal IAPSS Winter School 2015 participation kit, access to all program components and social events in the evening as well as an official certificate of participation.
Further Remarks: Transportation to Sakarya had to be arranged by the attendees. IAPSS did not cover travel expenses to/from Sakarya. We recommended to consult with the participants’ university / academic institution for individual financial support for participation and travel costs. Also, a range of foundations and academic institutions offer grants and scholarships for seasonal schools. If selected, attendees were offered to receive a personal visa invitation letter / letter of confirmation, if needed.
The International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) is the worldwide representation and platform for political science students and related studies. IAPSS – politically independent, non-profit, entirely student-run and embracing more than 1.100 individual and 11.000 collective members from more than 90 countries – generates and promotes political science opportunities for active engagement, career development and academic proficiency for students of political science and related disciplines throughout a variety of events, publications and services throughout the year.
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies (SAMEC) is a body of Sakarya University in Sakarya, Turkey. It is one of the largest clusters of Middle Eastern scholars in Turkey. Founded in 2013 to strengthen the systematic study of the Middle East region, SAMEC is responsible for both teaching and research. With its more than 25 staff, SAMEC organizes different postgraduate programs. More information are available here.
Please note that IAPSS Membership was required in order to participate in the IAPSS Winter School 2015. IAPSS Membership comes at only 15 EUR (for citizens of Europe incl. Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia) or 10 EUR (for all other countries) per year (discounted rates for two-year membership are available for 25 and 15EUR respectively) and offers you a wide range of benefits, including priority access to IAPSS Conferences, IAPSS Delegations, and IAPSS Study Trips as well as the opportunity to participate in IAPSS’ political science journals POLITIKON and ENCUENTRO LATINO AMERICA, and the IAPSS’ IR blog A Different View. Also, members receive the biweekly IAPSS News & Opportunities condensing political science opportunities such as internships, jobs, conference calls and more. Find all information on the services we provide and how to apply here.
You attended the IAPSS Winter School 2015 and need further documentation of your participation or support regarding your paper? Do you have questions or inquiries regarding the IAPSS Winter School 2016? Then do not hesitate to contact us at: winterschool@iapss.org.
The IAPSS Winter School 2015 in Sakarya, Turkey was held from February 1st to 7th, 2015. 30 participants from 20 different countries participated in this week-long event on “the EU and the Middle East: Political Transformation and Challenges for Future Cooperation”. Throughout a series of lectures, academic workshops as well as discussion sessions, the participants were provided with a comprehensive overview on Turkish as well as regional politics by high-ranking lecturers from universities in Sakarya, Istanbul and Ankara.
Each participant at the IAPSS Winter School was set to produce a concept for an academic paper throughout the week, supported by workshops and working group sessions to review, examine and enhance the chosen methodology, the theoretical framework and the overall research objectives. On the very last day of the School, the participants presented their first paper drafts and research, followed by lively and controversial Q&A sessions. 6-8 of these papers will be selected for publication in a special issue of POLITIKON, one of IAPSS’ Journals (submissions are to be made until February 28th).
Overall, the IAPSS Winter School 2015 was a great success, featuring not only academic highlights but also a day-long excursion to the Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and its economic and cultural center as well as social events in the evening. Based on both an on-site and online evaluation, we will work with dedication to further improve our Seasonal Schools program.
We would hereby like to thank the participants of the IAPSS Winter School 2015 for their great interest, commitment and dedication, as well as the Organizing Committee and SAMEC for realizing the event. We are looking forward to the IAPSS Summer School 2015, to be held in Venice, Italy, from August 10th – 21st, 2015.
