Lectures and Seminars – Summer Semester 2013
Lectures and Seminars by Prof. Dr. Hannes Grandits
Lecture 51488: The Balkans: Change of a Historical Region
Wed 10-12, Venue: UL6, Room 2014A
After 1989, explanations based on the “long dureé” acquired once again central importance in explaining the new realities emerging in different parts of Europe, none more so than in the region which is of primary concern for this lecture: The Balkans. But we can also analyse this phenomenon from a critical perspective. How is it possible that periods of the recent modern past, like the “national revival of the 19th and 20th centuries” or even the distant past, like the “booms” over Skanderbeg to Alexander the Great, acquired such a centrality within political and societal interests? How is it possible that all of a sudden it became necessary to be aware of long term “national traditions” in order to make sense of the social reality in the contemporary Balkans? This lecture will offer an analysis of the “becoming historical” of the Balkan region which will conceptualize the multi-faceted changes taking place in this region of Europe from a global perspective.
BA Seminar 51402: Muslim Societies in (South-East) Europe: A Historical Approach
Thu 10-12, Venue: DOR 24, Room 1402
Around 30 million Muslims live in contemporary Europe. Apart from migrants, which arrived in the second half of the 20th century, there are also groups that have lived in Europe from time immemorial or at least hundreds of years. Prominent in this last group are the Muslim of South-East Europe (Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, etc.). These groups of South-East European Muslims, which are also related to the majority of German Muslims, play a big role in the formation of a “European Islam”. This seminar will analyse this subject from the point of view of concrete examples of everyday life, in which the present situations are better understood through historical continuities, discontinuities and experiences.
Colloquium 51425: Contemporary research themes in South-East and Central Europe
Wed. (every two weeks) 14-16, Venue: FRS 191, Room 5007.
In this seminar, new research themes and questions will be explored about the history and historical anthropology of South-East Europe. This seminar constitutes a forum where on-going research from exam candidates, students and doctoral candidates will be presented with concrete reference to theoretical as well as practical and methodological problems.
Colloquium 51424: Berlin Research Colloquium South-East Europe
Fri 14-19 (every four weeks), Venue: DOR 24, Room 1405.
In this colloquium, on-going research projects are presented and discussed about historical, cultural studies, ethnological as well as social and cultural anthropological themes. The Berlin Research Colloquium South-East Europe is organised in cooperation by H. Sundhaussen (FU Berlin – Institute for East European Studies) and H. Grandits (HU Berlin – Chair for South-East European History). The current programme can be found on the homepage of the Chair for South-East European History (under Events) and on the Research Platform South-East Europe www.fpsoe.de. The colloquium is organised as a series of presentations which take place once a month on Fridays from 2pm until 7pm.
Courses by Prof. Dr. Hannes Grandits and Dr. Fernando Veliz
MA Seminar 51426: Disintegrating States, Creating States: 19th and 20th Century Global Perspectives
Thu 10-12, Venue: DOR 24 Room 1.402
How do states and societies disintegrate? How do new states emerge? Are there any patterns that we can discern in the successive waves of state creation in the last two centuries? What is the relationship between international norms and local societal conflicts? These questions will be at the core of this multi-disciplinary seminar aimed at bringing a global perspective to the analysis of the ever changing configuration of the international order of territorial states. The course will offer students a theoretically grounded case study selection that will illustrate the complexity of the process of state creation and the way the local and the universal interact in a globalising world. The seminar will follow a chronological structure that will seek to incorporate the narratives of different regional “peripheries” to challenge the established “Eurocentric” models of state creation explanation in which the “nation state” is an integral part of attaining a successful “modernity”.
Courses by Dr. Fernando Veliz
Proseminar 51446: Introduction to the History of South-East Europe
Tue 10-12, Venue: DOR 24, Room 1.404.
This seminar will offer students an introduction in the study of the history of South-East Europe. To begin with, it will focus on the historiographical representations of South-East Europe and on the origins of the perceptions of “the Balkans” as a “problematic” periphery of Europe. The seminar will also offer an overview of the newest historical interpretations applicable to this region and will offer a survey of the latest research and methodological approaches through concrete case studies.
Exercise 51476: International History since 1890
Tue 14-16, Venue: DOR24, Room: 1.404.
This seminar offers students an introduction to International History from the last decade of the 19th century to end of the Cold War. The seminar will address the changing nature of the International Order and will trace the evolution of international politics from the era of Imperial Great Power competition to the current new emerging multi-polarity of the contemporary world. The seminar will chronologically and thematically focus on the alternating waves of globalisation and de-globalisation that have characterised international politics during the last century and would critically asses the need to develop a global perspective in the study of international history. From a methodological point of view, the course will also focus on the historiographical and theoretical problems that have questioned some of the basic assumptions of writing the history of international politics. The seminar aims to provide students with an overview of the main historical events and interpretational debates and it is aimed at students with no prior knowledge of international history.
