About

The International Balkan Summer School “Balkans and the Global Politics” aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics between the Balkan region and global political players such as the EU, Russia, China, Türkiye, and the USA. Through engaging panel discussions, the project seeks to unravel the multifaceted relationships, historical contexts, and contemporary challenges that define the geopolitical landscape of the Balkans, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By bringing together scholars, lecturers and experts, the schools aims to facilitate insightful conversations that transcend traditional narratives, and strategic relationships, providing a nuanced perspective on how the Balkans navigate their interactions with major world powers.

The International Balkan Summer School is specifically designed for an academically inclined target audience, namely postgraduate students engaged in the second and third cycles of their academic pursuits, who are conducting or have completed postgraduate studies related to the Balkans. The envisaged participation includes a select cohort of 25-30 researchers who have demonstrated scholarly excellence. The eligibility criteria for participation include the acceptance of submitted articles and successful scrutiny by the scientific and academic board, emphasizing a rigorous selection process.

The International Balkan Summer School applies the blind peer review system; the submitted abstracts and full texts will be accepted after being evaluated by experts in their field. The papers chosen at the end of the Summer School will be published by the Balkan Studies Foundation in order to admit the presentations taking place at the Summer School to the scientific world.

Deadline for Abstract Submission March 15, 2024

Important Dates

March 15, 2024

Submission

Deadline for abstract submission
March 25, 2024

Announcement

Announcement of accepted abstracts
June 25, 2024

Submission

Deadline for full paper submission
July 10, 2024

Announcement

Announcement of the IBSS program
July 15-20, 2024Monday-Saturday

Implementation

Implementation of the IBSS
December 31, 2024

Publication

Publication of the selected papers

Boards

Honorary Board of the Congress

Balkan Studies Foundation President Dr.Sevba Abdula
Oranje Institute President, Dr. Ali Eşlik
Ankara Düşünce Okulu President, Prof.Dr. Mehmet Bulut

Organizing Committee

Dr. Sevba Abdula – Balkan Studies Foundation (North Macedonia)
Assist. Prof. Dr. Bujamin Bela – Mother Teresa University (North Macedonia)
Dr. Ali Eşilk-Oranje Institute, (Netherland)
Assist.Prof.Dr. Serdar Serdaroğlu, Istanbul University, (Türkiye)
Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Köroğlu, İstanbul University, (Türkiye)
Dr. Deniz Memedi, Mother Teresa University, (North Macedonia)
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Mevludin Ibishi, International Balkan University (Türkiye)
Dr. Mustafa Işık, (Bulgaria)
Dr. Vehap Kola, (Albania)

Secretariat

Berat Alili, Balkan Studies Foundation (North Macedonia)
Semran Murtezani, Balkan Studies Foundation (North Macedonia)

Scientific Committee of the Summer School

Prof.Dr. Mehmet Bulut, Istanbul Zaim University, Türkiye
Prof. Dr. Musa Musai, State University of Tetovo, North Macedonia
Prof. Dr. Qufli Osmanı, State University of Tetovo, North Macedonia
Prof. Dr. Gültekin Yıldız, Istanbul University, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Viktoria Kafedziska, International Balkan University, North Macedonia
Prof. Dr. Kire Sharlamanov, International Balkan University, North Macedonia
Prof. Dr. Bejtulla Demiri, International Balkan University, North Macedonia
Prof. Dr. Murteza Bedir, Istanbul University, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Ekrem Demirli, Istanbul University, Turkey
Prof. Dr. Mahmut Hakkı Akın, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Ali Erken, Marmara University, Turkey
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mevludin İbishi, International Balkan University, North Macedonia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Kadı, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Atçıl, Sabancı University, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdülkadir Macit, Kocaeli University, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul Karakuş, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alim Arlı, Istanbul Technical University, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neritan Turkesh, Mother Teresa University, North Macedonia
Assist. Prof. Dr. Sedad Beslija, University of Sarajevo, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Assist. Prof. Dr. Elmin Alijev, Istanbul Medenıyet University, Azerbejcan
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Uğur Ekinci, SETA
Assist. Prof. Dr. Bujamin Bela, Mother Teresa University, North Macedonia
Assist. Prof. Dr. Murat Aliu, Mother Teresa University, North Macedonia
Assist. Prof. Dr. Süleyman Güder, Istanbul University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. Zahit Atçıl, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. Petar Todorov, Institute of National History, North Macedonia
Assist. Prof. Dr. Agron İslamı, Ali Hadri History Institute – Prishtine, Kosovo
Assist. Prof. Dr. Fation Shabani, Ibn Haldun University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Halil Üçer, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. Kadir Temiz, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. İzzettin As, Kırklareli University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. Yunus Uğur, Marmara University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. Drita Memedi, State University of Tetovo, North Macedonia
Assist. Prof. Dr. Besa Sejdiu, South East European University, North Macedonia
Assist. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Zeyd Gerçik, Marmara University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. Sanja Adzaip Velickovska, International Balkan University, North Macedonia
Assist. Prof. Dr. Ramazan Turgut – Oranje Institute (Netherland)
Assist. Prof. Dr. Natalija Shikova, International Balkan University, North Macedonia Assist. Prof. Dr. Nikola Dacev, International Balkan University, North Macedonia
Assist. Prof. Dr. Abdullah Muhsin Yıldız, Yalova University, Türkiye
Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Lökçe, International Balkan University, North Macedonia
Dr. Deniz Memedi, Balkan Studies Foundation, North Macedonia
Dr. Muhamed Jashari, Independent Researcher, North Macedonia

Rules for Writing

Manuscripts submitted to the International Balkan Summer School (the full text of the paper) must not have been previously published nor currently presented for publication anywhere.

Abstracts must be in English and submitted to https://forms.gle/RAGznsHmrRSaj7BBA Google form and and must be between 250 and 350 words in length.

The full text should contain no information about the author anywhere. If any information is found in the full text that would identify the author, the text will be eliminated without being subjected to peer review as it does not comply with the blind review policies of the Balkan Studies Foundation.

The study should contain between 4,000 to 8,000 words.

The full text must be submitted in Microsoft Word format by June 25, 2024. Texts uploaded in PDF format will not be accepted.

Full texts not prepared in accordance with the Rules of Writing of the Balkan Studies Congress will be rejected without being sent to the reviewers.

The articles to be submitted to the Balkan Studies Congress should be written in The Microsoft Word program with at least 2.5 cm margins, and the entire text should be written in Times New Roman font, font size has to be 12 and 1.5 line spacing. The name of the article should be written in capital letters, bold font and size 14, while the subtitles should be written in lowercase font and size 12.

In the articles, after the name of the author, in the footnote with an asterisk (*) symbol, the title of the author, the university/department and the mail address must be written in full.

Tables and tables should be numbered sequentially. Footnotes for tables should be added just below the table body and should be indicated in lowercase. Care should be taken to use as few tables as possible. The data presented in the tables should be avoided to match the data presented in the text.

Footnotes, abstracts, bibliographies, tables, etc. should be completed before the article is delivered.

In the introduction part of the article, the subject, thematic, temporal and spatial boundaries of the article should be specified. Also, it should include information such as the importance of the article, the space it fills in the field, the new perspective it brings, and the information it corrects. In addition, the methods and sources used, the main claim, and the side claims supporting it should also be included.

The full texts submitted after assessing the abstract will be subjected to a preliminary examination by the Regulatory Board in terms of form and content, after which it will be sent to the reviewers. The following decisions may be given for the studies in line with the reports coming from the reviewers:

Acceptable in its current state.

Can be accepted into the Summer School after correcting the issues stated in the review evaluation.

Rejected.

 

APA 7th edition will be used as the article reference system.

Matters to Consider When Presenting the Paper

Holding a successful and efficient The International Balkan Summer School depends on the contents of the papers as well as the successs of their presentations. Presenting papers in order, with discipline, on time, and with success is very important. The following guidelines have been created to help you with your presentation.

Session and Paper Durations

1) The International Balkan Summer School will consist of 4-5 announced sessions, each lasting 90-100 minutes.

2) A total of 15 minutes will be allowed for each presentation. Strict compliance with this duration is of utmost importance. The functioning of the symposium according to schedule depends on complying with these durations.

3) The time remaining after the papers have been presented will be used for evaluations, comments, criticisms, and answering questions from the audience.

Meeting

4) One chairperson will lead each session. The chairperson will be in the hall prior to the session and will meet the speakers who will make a presentation. Each participant must be in the hall 10 minutes prior to the session and must check their presentation.

Presentation and Presentation Materials

5) The presentation must be carefully prepared so that it can be completed within the allowed time.

6) Only the main points of the paper that have been prepared in the presentation should be discussed. Details can be read from the proceedings book, or further discussions with relevant stakeholders can be continued during the intermission after the presentation.

7) Each hall will have a projector and a computer for the presentations. Because these computers are the ones to be used for the presentations, the presentation must be uploaded to the computer in the respective hall in advance (e.g., the morning of the day of the presentation). Hall attendants may be consulted for support on technical issues related to the presentation.

8) Using short sentences (2-4 words) and a large font size (at least 24 point) on the slides is important in terms of following up the presentation.

9) A maximum of 15 slides should be prepared for a 15-minute talk. Make sure the presentation can be completed within 15 minutes by experimenting beforehand. A sample structure for an oral presentation is given below:

SUMMER SCHOOL TOPICS

The International Balkan Summer School will be able to cover all sub-disciplines of the social sciences focused on the Balkans region. Some of the topics to be addressed at the congress may appear as but are not limited to the following:

1. Ethnic Conflicts in the Balkans

  • Overview of the historical context of ethnic diversity in the Balkans.
  • The role of the Ottoman Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire in shaping ethnic dynamics.
  • Causes and consequences of the breakup of Yugoslavia.
  • Analysis of the ethnic conflicts and wars in the 1990s.
  • In-depth analysis of specific ethnic conflicts, such as the Bosnian War, Kosovo, and Macedonian conflicts.
  • The international community’s role in addressing ethnic conflicts in the Balkans.
  • Collective memory and its influence on contemporary relations.
  • Comparative analysis of ethnic conflicts in the Balkans with conflicts in other regions.
  • Lessons for conflict resolution and prevention.

 

 2.  EU Integration and Balkan Countries

  • EU Enlargement and the Balkans
  • The Role of North Macedonia in the European Union Accession Process
  • Overview of the EU enlargement policies and strategies.
  • The significance of the Western Balkans in the enlargement agenda.
  • Historical context of the relationship between the EU and the Balkan countries.
  • Evolution of EU integration policies in the region.
  • Detailed examination of the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership.
  • Assessment of the progress made by each Balkan country in meeting accession requirements.
  • Identification and analysis of challenges faced by Balkan countries in the EU integration process.
  • The importance of the rule of law in the EU accession process.
  • Judiciary reforms and their impact on the legal systems of Balkan countries.
  • Examination of economic reforms required for EU integration.
  • Impact on economic structures, trade, and investment.
  • Examination of economic reforms required for EU integration.
  • Impact on economic structures, trade, and investment.
  • Alignment of security and foreign policies with EU standards.
  • Contribution to regional and global security.
  • The role of cultural and educational exchanges in fostering integration
  • The geopolitical implications of EU enlargement in the Balkans.
  • Analysis of challenges and opportunities for Balkan countries after EU accession.
  • The process of integration into EU structures.

 

3. *Geopolitical Shifts in the Balkans*:

  • The Role of External Powers
  • The Balkans in Contemporary Geopolitics
  • Geopolitics of Borders and Territorial Disputes
  • Geopolitics of Energy Resources
  • Geopolitical Implications of Migration
  • Geopolitics of Cultural Diplomacy
  • The United States and Balkan Relations
  • Russia’s Influence in the Balkans
  • China’s Growing Presence in the Balkans
  • Energy and Infrastructure Projects
  • The Belt and Road Initiative and Its Implications for the Balkans
  • Overview of historical geopolitical dynamics in the Balkans.
  • Influence of empires, Cold War, and post-Cold War era on regional geopolitics.
  • Impact of identity politics on regional relationships.
  • Geopolitical dimensions of conflict resolution efforts.
  • Geopolitical significance of energy routes and infrastructure projects.
  • The geopolitical position of the Balkans in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions.
  • Geopolitical impact of migration on regional stability.
  • The role of soft power and cultural diplomacy in shaping geopolitical perceptions.
  • Regional cultural exchanges and collaboration.
  • Anticipation of future geopolitical trends in the Balkans.
  • Scenarios for regional cooperation and conflict.

 

4. Nationalism and Identity Politics:

  • Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in the Balkans
  • Nationalism and the Role of Leaders
  • Nationalism and the Role of Media
  • Nationalism and Memory Politics
  • Exploration of historical events contributing to the emergence of nationalism in the Balkans.
  • The impact of Ottoman rule, Habsburg influence, and nationalist movements.
  • Analysis of the ethnic and religious mosaic in the Balkans.
  • The role of diversity in shaping nationalist narratives.
  • Case Studies of Nationalist Movements: Examples from different countries in the region.
  • The role of nationalism in the conflicts and wars of the 1990s.
  • Nationalist ideologies as contributing factors.
  • The use of identity politics in the process of nation-building.
  • National symbols, myths, and narratives.
  • The role of media and propaganda in shaping nationalist narratives.
  • Analysis of how media influences public perception.
  • Challenges of dealing with nationalism in post-conflict societies.
  • Efforts towards reconciliation and nation-building.
  • The impact of nationalist sentiments on the European integration process.
  • The role of the EU in addressing identity politics.
  • The situation of ethnic and religious minorities in the context of nationalist politics.
  • The role of memory politics in shaping national identity.
  • Commemorative practices and their impact on collective memory.
  • The use of cultural heritage in constructing national identity.
  • Analysis of nationalist political movements and parties in the Balkans.
  • Anticipation of future trends in nationalism and identity politics in the Balkans.
  • The role of younger generations in shaping the region’s identity.

 

5. Security Challenges in Southeast Europe:

  • Overview of historical events shaping security dynamics in Southeast Europe
  • Challenges and opportunities in post-conflict security.
  • The role of international interventions and peacekeeping missions
  • Analysis of transnational security threats in the region.
  • Organized crime, human trafficking, and terrorism
  • The role of NATO in addressing security challenges.
  • Regional security cooperation initiatives
  • The impact of EU integration on regional security.
  • The role of energy resources and infrastructure in regional security.
  • Geopolitics of energy routes and projects
  • Security challenges and cooperation in the Adriatic and Aegean regions.
  • Naval activities and the potential for conflict
  • Analysis of cybersecurity challenges in Southeast Europe.
  • National and regional efforts to enhance cybersecurity
  • The impact of migration on border security: Efforts to manage and secure borders
  • Influence and activities of non-state actors in regional security.
  • Civil society, NGOs, and their impact on security dynamic
  • Efforts towards reforming security institutions in Southeast Europe
  • Anticipation of future security trends in Southeast Europe.

 

6. Economic Transformations in the Balkans

  • Overview of the transition from planned to market economies in Balkan countries.
  • Economic reforms and their impact on the private sector.
  • Analysis of FDI patterns and trends in the Balkans.
  • Factors influencing FDI inflows and their impact on economic transformation
  • Examination of privatization processes in the region.
  • Challenges and benefits of privatizing state-owned enterprise
  • The role of trade in economic transformation.
  • Regional economic integration efforts and their impact
  • Evolution of the financial sector in Balkan countries.
  • Banking reforms, capital markets, and financial inclusion.

 

7. *Human Rights and Transitional Justice*:

  • Examination of historical human rights violations in the Balkans.
  • The impact of conflicts and authoritarian regimes on human rights.
  • Analysis of the role of international criminal tribunals in addressing war crimes.
  • The impact of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
  • Overview of legal frameworks and international conventions related to transitional justice.
  • Comparative analysis of legal approaches in the Balkans.
  • Examining mechanisms for providing reparations to victims
  • The issue of missing persons and mass graves in the context of transitional justice
  • The role of civil society organizations in advocating for human rights.
  • Challenges and achievements in human rights activism
  • Initiatives for educating the public about human rights violations.
  • Memory projects and museums preserving the historical record
  • Cooperation between national and international actors in transitional justice: the role of the United Nations, NGOs, and other international bodies.
  • The role of media in reporting on human rights violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Master’s students, doctoral students, or anyone who has completed their master’s and doctorate degrees within the last two years can apply to the Summer School.

Yes, one may participate in the congress with more than one paper, provided that these papers comply with the announced subjects. However, one author may present a maximum of two papers at the Summer School.

No. Undergraduate students may only participate in the Summer School as audience members.

Anyone who meets the conditions (i.e., transportation, accommodations) can participate in the audience regardless of whether or not they have an academic education. Please note, the congress provides no support for audience members.

 

The relevant parts of the site state the features that will be considered for the papers at the International Balkan Summer School. Other unmentioned issues are the conditions that an academic paper must meet. On this point, support for papers can be obtained from academicians or people who are knowledgeable in regard to academic writing.

 

Participating in the Summer School  is free. Participants’ accommodations, breakfasts, and dinners will be covered by the Symposium’s organizing committee. A free tour of the city will be offered to the Summer School participants after sessions have been completed. Transportation to the Summer School will be at the participant’sown expense (not covered). Presentations at the Summer School will be held from 15 July to 19 July; the city tour will occur on Saturday, 20 July. Flight or bus tickets should be determined by taking these dates into consideration.

The congress will accept papers and presentations only in English.

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