On-site in Tartu, 28 July - 8 August 2024
With wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Nagorno-Karabakh dominating contemporary international relations the study of secessionist bids and the quest for statehood and recognition becomes paramount. Students of International Relations can benefit from a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the concepts and practices of secessionism as well as the way in which these aspects impact the international order.
This course highlights fundamental questions of sovereignty and statehood in the context of secessionist conflicts. It offers an insight into the topics such as self-determination and sovereignty practices, survival pathways, incomplete and negotiated secessions. We will also explore the topics of „frozen conflicts“ and de facto states and their agency. We then turn to analysing the politics of recognition, counter-secession strategies and engagement without recognition as well as the success and failure of secessionist movements. This course relies mostly on first hand research and is comparative in nature, with students having the opportunity to explore different cases of secessionist bids from across the world through a combination of teaching, independent work as well as discussions based on various films and a fieldtrip to Narva - a city directly bordering Russia with a Russian-speaking majority population. A separate part of the course will be dedicated to a simulation exercise where students will have the chance to gain first hand experience of negotiation techniques as well as practical knowledge of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Focus area: | Political Science | Coordinating unit at UT |
Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies |
Study Field: | International Relations and Regional Studies | Course Leader | Prof Eiki Berg |
Format | Summer Course | Location | Tartu, Estonia |
Course dates: | 28 July - 7 August 2024 | Apply by: | 30 April 2024 |
ECTS: | 3 | Fee: | 700 EUR |
Study | MA/PhD | Language | English |
Lecturers:
The workload of the students will consist of 72 hours of academic work and 6 hours of independent work.
Please find the preliminary schedule below:
Sun, 28 July
Arrival. Welcoming events
Mon, 29 July
10:00–13:00 Self-determination and Sovereignty Practices
13:00–14:00 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Film screening and discussion “How to Start Your Own Country” (2011)
Tue, 30 July
10:00–13:00 Peace and Violence in Secessionist Bids: What Works?
13:00–14:00 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Film screening and discussion “Parts of the Circle: History of the Karabakh Conflict” (2019)
Wed, 31 July
10:00–13:00 De Facto States and “Frozen Conflicts” 13:00–14:0 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Film screening and discussion “PMR: In the State of Limbo” (2014)
Thu, 1 Aug
10:00–13:00 Patronage and De Facto State Agency 13:00–14:00 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Film screening and discussion “Abkhazia: The Long Arm of Russia” (2009)
Fri, 2 Aug
10:00–13:00 Politics of Recognition
13:00–14:00 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Film screening and discussion “The Agreement” (2013)
Sat, 3 Aug Fieldtrip to Narva
Sun, 4 Aug Fieldtrip to Narva
Mon, 5 Aug
10:00–13:00 Counter-secession Strategies and Engagement without Recognition
13:00–14:00 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Film screening and discussion “Somaliland: An Experiment in Democracy” (2015)
Tue, 6 Aug
10:00–13:00 Success and Failure of Secessionist Movements
13:00–14:00 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Film screening and discussion “Ghosts of Karabakh” (2021)
Wed, 7 Aug
10:00–13:00 Negotiation and simulation exercises 13:00–14:00 Lunch
14:00–16:00 Conflict simulation exercise: Israel- Palestine Conflict
16.30 Conclusion and certificates
Thu, 8 Aug
Departure
The students will receive about 60 pages of independent reading before the course.
The participants are welcome to take part in the social events in the evening.
Throughout the year 2024, Tartu will be the European Capital of Culture so there will be large variety of cultural events taking place.
Entry requirements:
PS: Only complete applications including all annexes submitted by the deadline will be considered for selection.
Students completing the course will:
Explore and analyse various cases of secessionist bids across the world
Gain practical understanding of negotiations in self-determination disputes.
The course presumes active participation and contribution from students. The target group is MA and PhD students.
The required reading: approximately 100 pages assigned by lecturers.
Two weeks prior to the start of the programme an information file will be sent to all participants. This file contains the daily schedule and relevant contact information of the programme managers.
Students are responsible for their travel, accommodation (except a night in Narva-Jõesuu) and travel insurance (visa arrangements if needed) from their home country to Tartu and back to their home country. It is recommended to visit the Tartu Welcome Centre website and arrival and housing section to find accommodation opportunities.