Call for Participation: Winter School Pyatigorsk 2016

Jean Monnet Network „Developing European Studies in the Caucasus” (DESCNet)
Call for participation: Winter School Pyatigorsk 2016

„European Integration and the Future of Civil Society in the Caucasus”
13 – 19 March 2016, Pyatigorsk (Russian Federation)

The Jean Monet Network „Developing European Studies in the Caucasus” (DESCNet) cordially invites you to apply for the first Winter School to be held in Pyatigorsk. The School is open to students of law, political science, international relations, public administration, cultural / Russian studies and related fields in their B.A. or early M.A. years. The language of instruction is English. A maximum of 6 ECTS will be awarded.

Please send your CV and an essay (maximum 2 pages) until 7 February 2016 to the DESCNet coordinator, Ms. Olga Bogdanova, of the University of Tartu (Estonia): [email protected]. Your essay should demonstrate argumentation and analytical skill on the topic “The role civil society should play in the countries of the Caucasus is …” where argue your case.

FEES / ACCOMODATION

The total participation fee is 50 EURO covering course costs, tuition, food and accommodation for 7 days. Travel arrangements, including visa, have to be made and paid for individually. The North Caucasus Federal University will provide visa support. The nearest airport with international connections is Mineralnye Vody (Russia).

ORGANIZERS

The Winter School is the first in a series of events offered by the Jean Monnet consortium DESCNet. The DESCNet consortium comprises leading universities of the wider Caucasus area, including Russia and Turkey. The local partner to host the Winter School is the North Caucasus Federal University in Stavropol with its branch in Pyatigorsk.

VENUE

The DESCNet Winter School 2016 will take place in Pyatigorsk, a traditional Russian spa location, beautifully located at the Caucasus mountain range with a gorgeous view on the snow-covered summit of Mount Elbrus. It is targeted towards ambitious students of the wider Caucasus region and Europe who want to improve their knowledge on the subjects of this Winter School by learning and discussing in the beautiful, vibrant and multi-cultural context of the North Caucasus. Accommodation for participants will be provided in hotels.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

The teaching will provide an interdisciplinary introduction to the North Caucasus, attempting to assess the role of civil society in the region and comparing it to approaches to civil society engagement prevalent in the EU. Analytical perspectives are developed, using the approaches of law, political science, sociology and cultural studies. To give participants a true immersion into the North Caucasus, there will be an optional instruction into North Caucasus dance styles in the evening. Over the weekend, participants have an opportunity to explore the nearby skiing resorts.

The School will offer teaching on the following topics:

• The EU's Vision of Civil Society: Values, Human Rights and Recognition in Formal Political Proceedings
• Human Rights as a Safeguard for Civil Society Activism
• Participation of NGO's in Building Civil Society in Russia and the EU: A Comparative Analysis
• The Role of Civil Society in Russia in Accommodating the Refugee Crisis (based on the incoming refugees from Eastern Ukraine)
• The Terskii Cossacks in the North Caucasus - An Early Form of Civil Society?
• Gender (In-) Equality in the Caucasus and its Effects on Civil Society
• Gender Policy in the EU and the New Legal Framework for Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in the Council of Europe

TEACHING BODY

• Anna Avanesova, Lecturer, Chair for Constitutional and International Law, North Caucasus Federal University (Russia)
• Roman Gabrilyan, Lecturer, Chair for Theory and History of State and Law, North Caucasus Federal University (Russia)
• Benedikt Harzl, Ass. Professor, Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies Centre, University of Graz (Austria)
• Svetlana Ivanova, Professor, Chair for Social Philosophy, North Caucasus Federal University (Russia)
• Thomas Krüßmann, Professor, Chair for Criminal Law, Kazan Federal University (Russia)
• Roman Nutrikhin, Lecturer, Chair for Environmental, Land and Labour Law, North Caucasus Federal University (Russia)
• Viktoriya Savina, Lecturer, Chair for Civil Law and Civil Procedure, North Caucasus Federal University (Russia)

For more information, please join our public group „Association of European Studies for the Caucasus” on Facebook.

Sincerely

Silver Bohl
Marketing Specialist
[email protected]
+372 737 6379