Flensburg, Germany

Minorities and the New Digital Paradigm

when 22 August 2021 - 29 August 2021
language English
duration 1 week
fee EUR 200

The notion of a ‘new digital paradigm’ (NDP) has been with us for more than two decades. Digital spaces and online identities have become a pervasive part of our social reality. In 2020, this trend was turbo-charged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only has society’s online presence grown exponentially, but social activism has also been forced to move largely online. The communities present in online spaces are extremely diverse, and minorities are part of them. Minorities use online platforms not only for running minority language media or promoting their culture, but also for digital activism. For some marginalised groups, having an online voice and a digital platform sometimes can be the only way to talk about the challenges and mistreatment they face. Minorities can find it easier to mobilise via online channels, where there are less administrative barriers. However, the new digital paradigm also has a flip side - often minorities become targets of online hate speech and harmful actions, given the rise of right-wing populist politics and loose and fragmented legislation aimed at regulating online space.

In 2021, the National Minorities in Border Regions Summer School will focus on online presence and the activism of minorities, the interlink between "offline" and "digital" identities and provide a platform to analyse the challenges minorities face in a digital space.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the ECMI is developing contingency plans which will allow us to proceed with the Summer School programme should disruptions occur due to travel restrictions for lecturers. These contingencies include some flexibility in the teaching and activities of the programme, including interactive online teaching options and sourcing locally-based lecturers to step in. Additionally, if confirmed participants are unable to attend the Summer School due to travel restrictions relating to the crisis, they will be fully refunded for any fees paid up to that point. In the event that the programme is cancelled entirely, any fees paid will be refunded in full.

The 10th Annual Summer School ‘National Minorities and Border Regions’ is organised together by the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) and the Coppieters Foundation and is kindly hosted by our partners at the Dansk Centralbibliotek for Sydslesvig.

This summer school is a joint initiative of ECMI and Coppieters Foundation. This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the conference or the opinions of the speakers.

Course leader

The programme will consist of lectures, seminars and workshops given by ECMI research staff and expert guest lecturers, including Vello Pettai (ECMI), Kyriaki Topidi (ECMI), Ljubica Djordjevic (ECMI), Sergiusz Bober (ECMI), and more to be announced.

Target group

The Summer School team aims to select a total number of 24 junior scholars, researchers or practitioners, having the following professional background: 

Students from relevant fields of studies (MA and PhD students), and/or practitioners from the public sector, NGOs, mass-media.

Course aim

The programme will combine traditional and non-formal educational methods, interactive sessions and networking activities and will thus inspire the participants to engage with the topics of the course critically and from different perspectives and disciplinary approaches. The course will include: 

Keynote lectures delivered by prominent scholars, academic lectures and practitioners’ seminars 

Interactive workshops conducted by trained professionals and discussion sessions 

Meetings and networking with local minority stakeholders, panel discussions 

A cross-border trip to Denmark to visit Germany minority organisations (subject to COVID-19 related regulations)

Presentation and research exchange among the participants 

Social events (city tour, visits to selected museums/exhibitions, international evening).

Fee info

EUR 200: The tuition fee for the Summer School 2021 is  200 EUR if the completed application is submitted until 16th April 2021 (EARLY BIRD discount)
EUR 250: The tuition fee for the Summer School 2021 is  250 EUR if the completed application is submitted after 16th April 2021.
The fee covers: 

The week-long programme of lectures and workshops

All reading materials before and during the Summer School 

Accommodation and breakfast in Flensbed Hostel in 4-bed rooms from 22nd August - 29th August 2021

Lunches and light refreshments for seven days of the Summer School, plus two dinners 

A field trip to Denmark 

Participation in all additional Summer School activities (city tour, social activities, visits to museums/exhibition) 

Support with bureaucratic matters during your visa application (if needed). Please note that visa fees will not be reimbursed. 
Cancellation policy 

Cancellation until 16th July 2021: 80% of the tuition fee will be refunded, minus any additional incurred costs. 

Cancellations after 16th July 2021: no refund

Scholarships

Scholarships not available