Summer School “Walking the Rope: Ukraine’s Balancing Act Between EU and Eurasia”

Venue: Kyiv (Ukraine)
Period: Aug. 27 - Sep. 9, 2012
Application deadline: [e.g. Oct. 26, 2009]

Since its independence 20 years ago, Ukraine developed a stronger co-operation with the West and the EU, but also never lost its ties to Russia. Whilst important events seemed to change the path towards one or the other direction – namely the Orange Revolution in 2004 - Kyiv’s orientation is still to both sides. It tries to negotiate an association and free trade agreement with Brussels while, at the same time, entering a post-Soviet free trade zone and considering Moscow's project of a Eurasian Union. How can one explain these balancing acts? Which were the critical transformations and events that determined the way in which Ukraine developed? What is specific for the Ukrainian culture and state, and where can we find typical traits of a post-Soviet society?

The summer school will introduce students to the analysis of these phenomena from different perspectives as the teaching will involve English-speaking political scientists, historians, economists, cultural scientists, and sociologists – mainly, but not only from National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy".

Topics treated that in one way or another will, among others, include:

- Ukraine between Democracy and Authoritarianism
- The Origins of the Orange Revolution, and What Remains of It
- Ukraine’s Relationship to the European Union & Russia
- The Transformation of Ukrainian Society in Comparative Perspective
- Ukraine's Economy and the World Financial Crisis
- Ukraine's Coming to Term with Its Past
- Ukraine's Post-Soviet Cultural Life, Social Change and Modernization Since 1991
- Ukraine and the Question of Gender Equality
- Ukraine and the Challenge of Ecological Change Including the Issue of Chernobyl

The course is oriented towards advanced under-graduate students (2nd year and above), although graduate, post-graduate, and doctoral-level students are also encouraged to apply. The course focuses on political and social issues, and is particularly suitable for students in the social sciences, humanities, and law, but open to all faculties. The course combines in-class sessions (lectures and seminars, interactive presentations with discussion highly encouraged), guest visits, joint discussions with local students, and tours to interesting sites in and around Kyiv.

After completion of the course, students will be issued NaUKMA transcripts. In case of full attendance of, and active participation in, these lectures/seminars, students may obtain 2.5 ECTS points.

The overal basic fee for the course is 500 €.  This basic fee of 500 € includes tuition and selected cultural events only.
There may be additional, facultative cultural events suggested by the school to the students. Attendance of these non-obligatory events will be possible for moderate, separate fees.
Courses of Ukrainian language, international airfare, transfers, medical insurance, accommodation, meals, public transportation and other private expenditures are not covered by the basic fee.

German students may want to check the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) specialized stipend programme for the summer school attendance (1025 € per student).
Please, note that those German students who wish to receive DAAD support have to apply separately and in parallel to the DAAD for this scholarship, before 25 May 2012.

Deadline for applying is May 25, 2012.

Larysa Chovnyuk
National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"
Department for Foreign Cooperation,
address: 2 Skovorody vul., Kyiv 04070, Ukraine
tel.: 0038.044.425.77.70
fax: 0038.044.425.50.16
e-mail: larch@ukma.kiev.ua