CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: 2025 Summer School on National Minorities Contested Loyalties: Kin-State Influence and Minority Rights in Europe

Coppieters Foundation and ECMI are excited to welcome candidatures for the 15th Annual Summer school, don’t miss the opportunity!

CONTEXT

The primary goal of the summer school is to critically examine and analyze kin-state policies and their effects on national minorities and communities.

It aims to train young academics and practitioners, providing them with a safe space for networking, discussing, and reflecting on the dynamics and consequences of kin-state policies in Europe. The event will foster a two-way exchange of knowledge between academics, students, and practitioners, encouraging future collaboration and research networks. The focus on kin-state policies arises from their significant impact on minority rights and international relations across Europe. Most European states today are ethnically, linguistically, and religiously diverse, often hosting communities who share cultural identity with titular groups in other states. These groups, often referred to as kin minorities, have historically been affected by border changes, empire dissolutions, and shifting state sovereignty, particularly in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. The study of kin-state policies reveals both the potential for cultural support and cooperation, as seen in Denmark’s support for the Danish minority in Germany, and risks of political instrumentalization and tensions, such as Hungary’s engagement with Hungarian minorities in neighboring states and Russia’s use of minority protection narratives to justify actions in Ukraine. Analyzing these policies through the lens of trust, inclusion, and minority rights protection can reveal effective strategies for fostering mutual respect and coexistence in diverse societies, while also identifying challenges and risks of misuse in the future.

TOPICS COVERED

• Power dynamics in inter-state minority relations and their historical contexts
• The securitization and politicization of minority identities Kin-states as cultural and political actors
• The EU’s role in mediating kin-state policies and minority rights
• The impact of minority language media on cross-border relations
• Emerging digital threats, misinformation, and the use of online spaces in kin-state strategies
• Challenges faced by stateless minorities and those without kin-state support

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

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. Our schedule will include:

Lectures and seminars by experts in the field of minority rights, minority issues, and kin-statepolicies.

Interactive workshops, world cafés, and discussion sessions for immersive learningexperiences.

Exclusive networking with local stakeholders, enhancing practical understanding through real-world examples.

A field visit to Narva, Estonia with significant Russian-speaking community.

An array of social events to enhance the learning experience and foster connections.

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

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The Summer School team aims to select a total number of 25 junior scholars, researchers or practitioners, having the following professional background:

Applicants are required to submit a completed online application form. which includes questionson general information (contact details, affiliation, practical and logistical information) andmotivation. To finalise the submission of an application, applicants must also submit their detailed CV via email to summerschool@ecmi.de no later than 10 May 2025.

Please state “SuS25Application_your surname” in the subject line.

The selection will be performed on the basis of academic and professional achievements, as well as expressed interest inthe topic. Diversity of the group in terms of professional background, gender, and country of origin will be an importantfactor in the selection process.

FEES

Early Bird: €250 (if applied by 6 April 2025)

Standard: €300 (if applied from 7 April 2025).

The fee covers:

• The week-long programme of lectures and workshops.
• All reading materials before and during the Summer School.
• Accommodation (including breakfast) in shared twin-bed rooms from 23 August (Saturday) – 31August 2025 (Sunday).
• Lunches and light refreshments for seven days of the Summer School, plus a closing dinner.
• A field trip to Narva, Estonia.
• Participation in all additional Summer School activities (city tour, social activities, visitsto museums/exhibition).

PARTNERS

This Summer School is a joint initiative of ECMI and Coppieters Foundation in cooperation with the Tallinn University School of Governance, Law and Society. 

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This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor the opinions of the speakers.

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