Summer School: Memory, Securitization and European Integration at the Southern Federal University Rostov na Donu from 28 June to 7 July
How does the current conflict between Europe and Russia impact on security? In what ways does the European perception of the conflict clash with the Russian perception? And what are the long-term consequences of the conflict for EU-Russia relations and European integration? These were the main questions, the Jean Monnet Network “NEMESIS” discussed during its summer school at the Southern Federal University Rostov na Donu from 28 June to 7 July with international students through lectures, poster presentations and workshops.
In order to find answers, the NEMESIS project in general and the summer school in particular are based on the innovative idea to approach the complex subject from an interdisciplinary perspective. In this regard, our Rostov partners Oxana Kharnaukova and Victor Aprychenko introduced historical concepts of memory, security and identity, while the historian Christian Noack from the University of Amsterdam brought in the empirical perspective.
The anthropologist Oliver Hinkelbein from the University of Bremen was responsible for several reflection units, spread over the whole week. In this context, the students were able to scrutinise the contradictory perceptions, memories and approaches between the EU and Russia.
Similarly, Hannes Meissner from the Competence Centre for Black Sea Region Studies gave a political science lecture on post-Soviet regime types. While they are classified as forms of failed transition from a Western perspective, government actors of the countries themselves aim at describing them as alternative forms of rule. Johannes Leitner (Competence Centre for Black Sea Region Studies) covered the international business perspective, giving a lecture on business security and political risks in the Eastern-Partnership Region.
The summer school ended with a boat trip on the river Don, which students and lecturers used as informal platform to continue their discussions.
This Summer School was part of the EU-project “NEMESIS”
Project Title: “Memory and Securitization in the European Union and Neighbourhood” (NEMESIS)
Co-funded by: Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union
Project Number: 565149-EPP-1-2015-1-RU-EPPJMO-NETWORK
Disclaimer: The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
