Dates: July 1 - August 10, 2010
Leader: Prof. Gordana Rabrenovic
Course Description:
Social Conflict & Community Services Abroad, SOCL 3471: Building off of conflict resolution & peace-building themes of the Belfast and the Israel Dialogues, the Balkans Dialogue will investigate social conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. This dialogue takes a deep look into both cooperation and conflict that made the headlines during the Balkan wars in the 1990s, along with the efforts to establish a peace agreement (the Dayton Accords). Media played a central role in fueling the conflict of the 1990s. As a contemporary Serbian writer states: "every family had an aggressive fascist in their midst - their TV set." (V. Pistalo) The monopolization of the media made the state-building projects of competing nationalisms possible. On the other hand, some truly heroic media - B-92 in Serbia, Feral Tribune in Croatia and Nasi Dani in Bosnia - proved that brave and honest journalism is possible even in the hardest on times. When we talk about the Balkans, we emphasize conflict. Yet, the Orthodox and Catholic Christians, Jews and Muslims still live together. How tentative is this "co-existence" How do community activists and local political and religious leaders work to maintain and deepen it?
Dialogue of Civilizations: Globalization & Social Sciences, INTL 4398: this course provides the interdisciplinary approach to understanding the history, culture, politics, and society of the Balkans and the former Yugoslavia. The term "Balkanize" is based on the long history of disorder and instability among the varied peoples who live at this crossroads between Central Europe and the Mediterranean world. Belgrade, the former capital of Yugoslavia and the current capital of Serbia, has been destroyed 44 times by armies attempting to control its strategic location at the juncture of the Danube and Sava rivers. Because of its history as a bridge and a battleground between cultures, Serbia developed its own version of Christianity, a strong loyalty to the extended family, and great generosity toward both friends and strangers. Visitors are often surprised to discover that a city full of war refugees, in which the U.S. Embassy was set ablaze only two years ago, is significantly safer than large American cities like Boston. NU students will meet with Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian community activists, scholars, and political leaders; journalists (print, radio, television, and web); U.S. embassy staff members; representatives of various NGOs; and officials from the World Bank, European Union & other organizations.
Course Credits: SOCL 3471 (SOCIAL CONFLICT & COMMUNITY SERVICES ABROAD) & INTL4398 (DIALOGUE: GLOBALIZATION & SOCIAL SCIENCES)
Pre-requisites: One of the following: Social Conflict & Community Service (sociology); International Conflict & Negotiations; Arab-Israeli Conflict; Ethnic Conflict (political science); previous Dialogue in Northern Ireland or Israel; or other course related to conflict, negotiations.
Cost of Program: Summer tuition for 8 NU credits plus additional costs TBD.
Application Process: Download the dialogue of civilizations application and waiver form. Turn in two copies of each completed form and two copies of your unofficial transcript to the Office of International Study Programs in 10 BV.
Application Deadline: Dec. 7, 2009
Disclaimer: Some information posted here is tentative and subject to change based on costs and dates of available flights. The website is updated as current information becomes available.
