Szkoła letnia “The Democracy of Others”

Jest jeszcze kilka wolnych miejsc na nabór do szkoły letniej “The Democracy of Others”.

Nabór skierowany jest do studentów i doktorantów wszystkich dyscyplin humanistycznych i społecznych.

Przedłużony termin zgłoszeń jest do 11 kwietnia. Formularz zgłoszeniowy: 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, US)
  Marie Detjen (Law, State Exam Candidate, Humboldt University, Berlin)
  Kate Creasey (History, PhD Student, Brown University, Providence, US)
  Paulina Gąsiorowska (History of Art and Comparative Literature, Undergraduate Student, Brown University, Providence, US)

Our democracy is at stake. As events unfold on both sides of the Atlantic, few serious people would disagree. But what exactly does it mean to speak of “our” democracy? What happens when a democracy belongs only to some, excluding others? How do democracies achieve a sense of being “ours” in the first place? What can be learned by looking at the democracies of others? And how does a democracy look like to those who are not allowed to participate in it? A look at external perspectives, as well as the perspectives of the various “others” living within democratic states may help us to reflect on the varieties of democratic societies, their key features and idiosyncrasies, and to open a space for re-imagining what democracy could be and where it might be headed, both in historical and present-day 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. Authors 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, to name a few.

The idea of the Sommerfrische is a variation on a historic practice. In the nineteenth century, Viennese intellectuals took to the hills and mountains during the summer in what was known as the Sommerfrische, which entailed intense discussions, long walks, and common meals. Traces of their time and thought linger in our contemporary disciplines. We believe—with them—that intellectual interaction should not be limited to a common classroom format; thought naturally overflows such constraints. The Sommerfrische lets it loose.

The model is a not-for-credit intensive reading/discussion retreat that entails two to three sessions daily for discussion and/or group film screenings/activities, as well as common meals and activities. The location will be in Kazimierz Dolny, Poland at the Pensjonat Winnica

Readings—totaling ~500 pages for the week—will be distributed a month in advance and participants are expected to complete them before the start of the Sommerfrische. There will be two short writing assignments (2 pages each), one prior to the start, and one to be completed on-site on the final day of the Sommerfrische, which give participants a 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 the co-conveners plus students in the US and Europe. Note that students of any nationality are welcome to apply. Travel and accommodation for all accepted participants will be covered by the organizers. Applications are due April 11, 2025. Notifications will be given by the end of April. If you have questions contact Holly Case (Holly_Case@brown.edu)