Series of events

Brownbag seminars have been regularly organised by the Centre for Southeast European Studies together with the Centre for Southeast European History since 2011. The seminars offer academics from the university and guest lecturers a forum to present their current research projects and discuss them with others in an informal setting.

Our discussion forum offers a platform for the exchange of ideas and perspectives on current topics and developments in Southeast Europe. Experts, students and interested parties are invited to discuss together, share knowledge and gain new insights. The aim is to promote intercultural dialogue and create a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the region.

Religion and Politics in Southeastern Europe

This lecture series deals with the reproduction of religions in the context of social change in Southeastern Europe. It examines the relationship between religions, politics, economics and other ideological social structures, using historical, anthropological, sociological and political science approaches. The lecture series focuses on different religious content structures and their historical-political functions in today's Southeast European societies.
Central themes are different ways of reproducing religious social ideas and concepts as well as decisive content elements of ideas and concepts in connection with social phenomena such as nationalism, authoritarian rule, democracy and the (re)configuration of economic relations.
The focus of the lecture series is on three dominant and most influential religions and religious communities - the Roman Catholic Church, Islam and the Orthodox Churches. However, religious communities and theistic social groups (including religious cults) that are in the minority and have less social influence will also be considered.
Nevertheless, as already mentioned, other socially relevant ideologies are placed in relation to religions and analysed. This involves primary ideologies, including their inherent social ideas and concepts, which are anti-religious and/or supposedly non-religious (such as Marxism/communism) or supposedly neutral towards religions (such as liberalism/neoliberalism).
Reproductions of religions from so-called Southeast Europe or "the Balkans" will be examined, but these productions will also be placed in a broader, "European" and global comparative context, including consultation with selected research approaches and theorists (beginning with theorists such as J.G. Fichte, L.A. Feuerbach and Karl Marx and ending with current modern theorists and theorists from Southeast Europe such as Srdjan Vrcan).
The analyses of the lecture series are primarily theory-led empirical analyses and are based in particular on theoretical approaches in the sociology and criticism of religion with regard to the study of religions in their social contexts. Each session will therefore include both a theoretical discussion and an empirical reflection.

WEBEX Meeting-LinkLink/URL
Meeting-Link: unigraz.webex.com/unigraz/j.php
Meeting ID: 121 008 3481
Password: 8JhPr4W9rM3

Education and Politics in Southeast Europe

This lecture series examines education and educational policies in the context of social transformations in Southeastern Europe. The question of the relationship between education, politics, ideology and totality in Southeast European societies will be posed using primarily historical, sociological and political science approaches. The lecture series will focus on different ideological structures and socio-political functions of education in contemporary societies in South-East Europe. Different educational policies and areas of education will be addressed, especially in relation to higher education and research institutes. Education and educational policies in the so-called Southeast Europe or "Balkans" are analysed. At the same time, the relevant phenomena are reflected comparatively in a broader, "European" and global context. The course particularly emphasises theory-based social research and accordingly the individual lectures are based on detailed social science theoretical approaches - such as Pierre Bourdieu's field theory - with regard to an examination of higher education in a socio-political context. In this sense, each course unit will include a theoretical discussion.

Design and Society in Southeast Europe

This lecture series examines design productions in the context of social transformations in Southeast Europe. The question of the relationship between design, politics, ideology and Southeast European societies is posed using historical, sociological, art-historical and political-scientific approaches. The lecture series will focus on different ideological structures, aesthetics and socio-political functions of design in contemporary societies in South East Europe. Different design productions - industrial design, graphic design, visual design and architectural design - that (co-)form public discourses will be thematised. Design productions from so-called Southeast Europe / the "Balkans" are analysed. At the same time, these productions are reflected comparatively in a broader, "European" and global context and selected schools of thought in design and design theorists are consulted accordingly (e.g. Bauhaus, De Stijl, Adolf Loos, Piet Mondrian, Louis Sullivan, Georg Nelson, Le Corbusier and Nigel Cross). Different design productions often endeavour to change or preserve political and social systems by changing the lifestyles of individuals and collectives. The course focusses in particular on theoretical approaches from the social sciences with regard to an examination of design in a social context. In this sense, each course unit will include both a theoretical discussion and an empirical reflection on social developments.

Europeanisation processes in South Eastern Europe

The lecture series takes a critical look at the significance of Europeanisation processes in Southeast Europe. Europeanisation is a core concept for explaining the transfer of EU law and institutions to potential members. Policy makers and academics have long viewed this process of adoption as an instrument to promote liberal democratic reforms in South Eastern Europe and other regions. For some years now, however, this process has been in crisis, due to the weakening appeal of liberal democratic ideas not only in the South-East European periphery, but also in the EU core countries. In addition, the institutions and mechanisms that transfer these norms, institutions and rules have also been weakened. Based on this crisis, the course discusses a more critical understanding of the concept, which brings in historical depth and different disciplines to describe the breadth of the process. This critical approach to Europeanisation assumes that transfer and negotiation have been taking place for at least two centuries and have occurred in several waves. Using an interdisciplinary perspective, the programme not only sheds light on the recent Europeanisation crisis, but also critically questions the concept in order to explore the extent to which it represents an element in the reproduction of power relations. This critical scrutiny also relates to the teleological dimension of the concept. The course thus contributes to the broader debate on the global diffusion of norms and ideas and to the evaluation of a critical approach to area studies.

Theatre and Society in Southeast Europe

This lecture series examines theatre in the context of social transformations in Southeast Europe. The question of the relationship between theatre, politics and Southeast European societies is posed using historical, sociological, literary and political science approaches. The lecture series focuses on different ideological structures, aesthetics and socio-political functions of theatre in contemporary societies in South-East Europe. Due to its collective reception and live character, theatre is particularly close to "real" society and tells stories about people and about life. Political theatre, which deals with central socio-political issues and (co-)forms corresponding public discourses, is a particular focus here. Political theatre examines complex social structures and the struggle for social change and often leads to fierce social controversies. Theatre productions from so-called South Eastern Europe / the "Balkans" are examined. At the same time, these productions are reflected comparatively in a broader, "European" and global context. Theatre often endeavours to change political and social systems, but also to preserve them. Different content structures and forms of expression are used to support and/or question the development of the nation state, capitalism, democracy and equality. The course focuses in particular on social science theoretical approaches to the study of theatre in a social context. In this sense, each course unit will include both a theoretical discussion and an empirical reflection on social developments. Theoretical discussions and empirical insights will be deepened in a seminar accompanying the lecture series "Theatre and Politics in Southeast Europe" through a theory-led exploration of individual examples of the "realities" of societies and theatres.

Politics and Architecture in Southeast Europe

This lecture series examines architecture in the context of social transformations in Southeast Europe: The question of the relationship between architecture, politics and Southeast European societies is posed by incorporating historical, sociological, literary and political science approaches. The lecture series will focus on different content structures, aesthetics and their socio-political functions of architecture in contemporary societies in South-East Europe. The basic premise of the lecture series is that architecture forms a meaningful basis for academic analyses of state models, state myths, national identities, different modes of social relations, forms of domination, power relations and social ideologies. Architecture contains specific forms of knowledge about the state and society and accordingly represents a component of public discourse. Architecture and architects often endeavour to change or preserve political and social systems. In doing so, different content structures and forms of expression are used to support and/or question the development of the nation state, capitalism, democracy and equality. The course focusses in particular on social science theoretical approaches to the study of architecture in a social context. In this sense, each course unit will include both a theoretical discussion and an empirical reflection on social developments. The theoretical discussions and empirical insights will be deepened in a seminar accompanying the lecture series "Architecture and Politics in Southeast Europe" through a theory-led exploration of individual examples of the "realities" of societies and architecture.

Film and (ex-)Yugoslav societies

This transdisciplinary lecture series examines the genre of film in the context of social transformations in Southeast Europe: the question of the relationship between film, politics and ex-Yugoslavian societies is posed using historical, sociological, film/media studies, literary studies and political science approaches. The lecture series will focus on different content structures and socio-political functions of films and film productions in contemporary post-Yugoslav societies. The basic premise of the lecture series is that films and film productions form a meaningful basis for academic analyses of state models, state myths, national identities, different modes of social relations, forms of domination, power relations and social ideologies. Films contain specific forms of knowledge about the state and society and accordingly represent a component of public discourse. Films and film producers often endeavour to change or preserve political and social systems. Different content structures and forms of expression are used to reflect, support and/or question the development of the nation state, capitalism, democracy, equality and the ex-Yugoslav wars. The course focuses in particular on the social science theoretical approaches to the study of films in a social context. In this sense, each course unit will include both a theoretical discussion and an empirical reflection on social developments. The theoretical discussions and empirical insights will be deepened in a seminar accompanying the lecture series "Film and (ex-)Yugoslavian Societies" through a theory-led exploration of individual examples of the "realities" of societies and films.

ASN European Conference: Nationalism in Times of Uncertainty

The University of Graz, in cooperation with the Association for the Study of Nationalities (ASN), is pleased to announce the joint conference, "Nationalism in Times of Uncertainty" which will be held from 4 to 6 July, 2018 in Graz, Austria. The conference will be organized by the Centre for Southeast European Studies of the University of Graz

The conference invites a broad range of papers and panels devoted to questions of nationalism, ethnicity, national identity and other related topics, with a focus on the Balkans, as well as Central Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, comparative and theoretical contributions.

As an interdisciplinary event, it welcomes contributions from political science, history, anthropology, sociology, sociology, law, economics, geography, cultural studies, literature, psychology, and related fields.

We particularly welcome panels and papers reflecting on the question of uncertainty and ruptures, including on

- The Impact of Populism and the Crisis of Democracy
- The Centenary of the End of World War One and the emergence of new states
- Breakdown of the post-WW I order in the Middle East
- The Aftermath of the Russian Revolution
- Muslim Nationalism in a transnational context
- Migration and Nationalist Responses
- Transnational dynamics of nationalism

European integration and state- and nation-building, Hvar, 28.08. - 05.09.2015
https://online.uni-graz.at/kfu_online/wblv.wbShowLvDetail?pStpSpNr=44009...

European integration and state- and nation-building, Hvar, 29 August - 5 September 2014
https://online.uni-graz.at/kfu_online/wbLv.wbShowLVDetail?pStpSpNr=40598...

European integration and state- and nation-building summer school, Ohrid, 1-14 September 2013

Globalizing Southeastern Europe, Zagreb, 29 August-10 September 2013

Intensive Course on Diversity Management, Kaunas, 10-23 July 2012

Globalizing Southeastern Europe, Leipzig, 30 August-12 September 2012
http://www.uni-leipzig.de/~glose/

The Centre for Southeast European Studies of the University of Graz coordinates the Doctoral Program "Europeanization Processes in Southeastern Europe". It offers regular doctoral colloquia and events for students and researchers at the University of Graz working on Southeastern Europe.

The Doctoral Program is organizing its 6th annual doctoral research retreat on 05. and 06. December 2022 at the Retzhof in southern Styria. With the financial support of the state of Styria (Land Steiermark, Kultur, Europa, Sport), we are able to fund the participation of 10 doctoral students from the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia).

The funding covers accommodation and food for two days and one night stay at the Retzhof as well as a travel subsidy of 100 Euro. We are looking for doctoral researchers working on topics related to the larger theme of Europeanisation Processes in Southeastern Europe. The projects can draw from a range of disciplines, including but not exclusively political sciences, history, economics, sociology, anthropology, human geography. We are interested in critical approaches on how to study the ideas, influence and ways in which Europe and notions of Europe are shaping Southeastern Europe. These studies may, but do not necessarily engage with the European Union.

Outstanding presentations can be published in the peer reviewed open access journal "Contemporary Southeastern Europe"

Please submit a CV and a brief outline (1 page) of your doctoral project by November 11th 2022 to h.paic(at)uni-graz.at