Balkans

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Region Context

The Balkan region has been called a powder keg for its rich history of ethnic and religious mixing as well as for its many wars throughout this past century. In the Balkans, more precisely in former Yugoslavia, the last European wars took place only fourteen years ago, opening an era of profound transformations: communist regimes have been  replaced by democracies, borders have been redrawn, and new states created in the most ambitious state building projects to date.  Countries such as Kosovo, Bosnia, Serbia and Albania offer the unique opportunity to observe and understand the large issues that dominate international politics, from intervention to peacekeeping, unresolved national questions and the complex relations among homogenizing states, minorities and their kin states.

Project Context

This IFP offers ample opportunities to focus on a variety of fields. However, no matter the type of institution they will work with, students will be mostly asked to conduct desk research and data collection, write and edit report and applications for grants, produce blogs and vlogs.The language barrier might be an issue in certain cases, although students with an independent research project will be able to conduct it in English without any problem.

Who Should Apply: Students with an interest in nationalism, ethnic conflict, intervention, peacekeeping and security.

Necessary Skills: Research and writing skills. Students should have completed either a quantitative research method class, or a field work/political ethnography class.

Objectives

This program will strengthen students’ capacity  of analyzing political and policy constraints as well as opportunities in post-conflict, democratizing states.

Potential Internships (Subject to Change/Expansion)

  • KWN (Kosovo Women’s Network), Kosovo
  • KIPRED, Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development. Kosovo
  • KCSS, Kosovar Center for Security Studies, Kosovo
  • Innovation Lab, UNICEF, Kosovo
  • Transparency International, Bosnia
  • The Helsinki Committee in Serbia
  • Partners, Albania
  • Agenda, Albania
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kosovo

Program Info and Requirements

Begins:  19 May 2013
Ends: 19 Jul 2013
Supervisor: Anna Di Lellio
Language Requirement: Albanian or BCS (Bosnian Croatian Serbian)
Required course: Spring Seminar on the History, Politics and Culture of the Balkans. Humanitarian Intervention is suggested but not required.
Concentrations: Open to all
Syllabus: 2013 Spring/Summer Balkans Syllabus

Anna Di Lellio Contact Information

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