Summer ‘The Democracy of Others’
There are still a few places available for the summer school intake ‘The Democracy of Others’.
The intake is aimed at students and PhD students from all disciplines in the humanities and social sciences.
The extended deadline for applications is until 11 April. Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7mXFPDGJ9KcLX8dr7U3aiRoHvpgbWz89lf5_1FAfUM7uhmQ/viewform
Prof. Joachim von Puttkamer (History, University of Jena, Germany)
Prof. Holly Case (History, Brown University, Providence, USA)
Marie Detjen (law, state exam candidate, Humboldt University, Berlin)
Kate Creasey (history, PhD candidate, Brown University, Providence, USA)
Paulina Gąsiorowska (art history and comparative literature, undergraduate student, Brown University, Providence, USA)
Our democracy is under threat. As events unfold on both sides of the Atlantic, few serious people will disagree. But what exactly does it mean to talk about ‘our’ democracy? What happens when democracy belongs only to some, excluding others? How do democracies achieve a sense of being ‘ours’? What can be learned by looking at the democracies of others? And what does democracy look like for those who cannot participate in it? Looking from an outsider’s perspective, as well as from the perspective of various ‘others’ living in democracies, can help us reflect on the varieties of democratic societies, their key features and idiosyncrasies, and open up a space to re-imagine what democracy can be and where it can go, both historically and in contemporary terms. We will approach this topic from a variety of perspectives: history, literature, religion, psychology, philosophy, sociology and political theory, as well as film, music and poetry. Contributors may include Alexis de Tocqueville, Tadeusz Kościuszko, František Palacký, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, Aimé Césaire, István Bibó, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Christa Wolf, Zeynep Tufekci, Patricio Guzmán and/or Ta-Nehisi Coates, among others.
The idea of Sommerfrische is a variation on a historical practice. In the 19th century, Viennese intellectuals took to the hills and mountains in the summer for so-called Sommerfrische, which involved intense discussions, long walks and shared meals. Traces of their time and thought survive in our modern disciplines. We believe – with them – that intellectual interaction should not be limited to a common classroom format; thought naturally transcends such limitations. Sommerfrische allows it to break free.
The model is an intensive reading/discussion retreat that includes two to three sessions per day for discussions and/or group film screenings/activities, as well as shared meals and activities. The retreat will take place in Kazimierz Dolny, at the Winnica Guesthouse.
The readings – a total of about 500 pages per week – will be sent out a month in advance and participants should complete them before the Sommerfrische begins. There will be two short writing assignments (2 pages each), one before the start and the other to be completed on site on the last day of Sommerfrische, which will give participants the chance to develop their own ideas based on what we have read and discussed.
The total number of participants will be approximately 14 and will include co-leaders and students from the US and Europe. Please note that students of any nationality are welcome. The organisers will cover travel and accommodation costs for all accepted participants. Applications must be submitted by 11 April 2025. Notifications will be sent by the end of April. If you have any questions, please contact Holly Case (Holly_Case@brown.edu)