EUROPEAN REGIONAL MASTER’S DEGREE IN DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE (ERMA)

Course Structure

Academic Clusters and Respective Cluster Leaders:

1. Philosophy of Human Rights
Prof. Gvozden Flego, University of Zagreb

This educational Cluster deals with the specifics of the philosophical approach to the human rights, as opposed to the legal, social or political one. Different disciplines of philosophy and different schools in relation to human rights are presented, alongside with the historical construction of the concept. The course further on gives basis and interpretation of the philosophical terminology used in the interpretation of human rights, as subject / object, politics – law - morality, individual / collective, right/obligation-duty. The contractual theories and human rights concept relation is addressed, as well as the contemporary philosophy of human rights. Key issues like globalization and human rights are as well dealt with.

2. Democracy
Prof. Francesco Privitera, University of Bologna

The cluster focuses on three main issues: post-communism, democratisation and EU enlargement, all discussed in relation to human rights protection. Main theories of democratisation are discussed in the context of the contemporary transitions to democracy, from totalitarian to liberal political regimes, with special reference to post-communist Europe and the different stages of the democratization process. The conceptual relations between democracy and human rights are also outlined. The Union is discussed as both an instance of reform stimulus, through its membership conditionality, as well as an instance of a political formation exhibiting serious democratic deficits. Apart from legal and political effects of transition, social and cultural transformations in post-communist Europe are also discussed from historical, political, economic and sociological perspectives.

3. Nationalism, Ethnicity and Religion
Prof. Dušan Janjić, University of Belgrade

The third Cluster comprises lectures addressing theoretical and empirical issues ranging from

1. Theory of Ethnicity and Multiculturalism
- Theoretical concepts of Ethnicity
- Ethnicity and Political Culture
- Social and Ethnic Prejudices and Stereotypes
- Religion and Ethnicity

2. Nationalism and Ethnic Conflicts u Post Conflict Societies in Transition
- Democracy and Ethnicity
- Theory and Politics of Nationalism
- Nation – State Building process, Territorial Integrity and Self - Determination
- Definition and Typology of Ethnic Conflicts
- Mechanisms of Resolving and Managing Ethnic Conflict
- International Intervention

3. Nation – State and Diversity Management
- Theoretical Concept of Nation – State
- Ethnic Diversity and Pluralism
- Concepts and Mechanisms of Diversity Management
- Federalism and Autonomy
- Power-sharing / Consociationalism
- Nation – State transformation process, Ethnic Conflicts and Regional and EU Integration
- State and Social Transformation and National Minority in Eastern Europe and in Balkans
Majority – Minority Relations in Post Conflict Societies
- Democratic Minority Policy

Nationalism as a theoretical concept with practical implications is explored in both its pre-modern and modern manifestations. Issues of ethnicity and migration in Europe and worldwide are also considered as well as stereotypes and ethnic conflicts within divided societies and the major tools for their prevention or limitation. The secession and conflicts in Yugoslavia are studied, with the post conflict institution building as well being addressed. Further on the role of religions and the relation with nationalism, ethnicity, identity and culture is discussed, with a specific attention to the Balkan cases”. The aim of this course among the rest is also to promote open-minded attitude to diversity.

4. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Prof. Vesna Bojičić – Dželilović, London School of Economics and Political Science

The aim of this interdisciplinary course is to provide students with a solid knowledge of international legal standards in the field of economic, social and cultural rights, and to relate these standards to broader theoretical debates in philosophy, political theory and economics. The principle that all human rights - civil, political, economic, social and cultural - are indivisible, interdependent and interrelated is now central to the international normative framework for the protection and promotion of human rights. The course addresses the reasons for increased international support for the idea of economic, social and cultural rights; consider foundational debates relating to the accommodation of these human rights within liberal political theory; and introduce students to the key international legal instrument in this field - the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The substantive content of the human rights such as an adequate standard of living (including adequate food and shelter), to education and free elementary education, and to the highest attainable standard of health - as well as the nature and scope of international legal obligation of states parties under this international treaty - will be analysed in the light of authoritative interpretative statements including the Maastricht Guidelines, the Limburg Principles and the jurisprudence of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Key thematic issues (including poverty, trade and development, and the role of civil society and NGOs) will also be considered.

The focus of Cluster V is on implementation and enforcement of human rights. This is developed on the universal level of the United Nations as well as the regional level of the Council of Europe, OSCE and the European Union. The European system of human rights and the human rights policies of the European Union are given particular attention. Furthermore, the national implementation of international human rights in SEE is studied with a particular emphasis on human rights in post-conflict situations, taking the examples of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Kosovo. In addition, the implementation of human rights of women in the region of SEE is introduced as well as the role of humanitarian law. Accordingly, there are courses on implementation of universal human rights, on enforcement of human rights in the European system, on implementation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo, on implementation of women's rights and on humanitarian law. The objective of the Cluster is to provide students with a better understanding of the implementation and enforcement of human rights at different levels in practice. As different systems are compared, they can also better understand the interrelationship between the different levels of human rights protection. Furthermore, students should become capable of advising how best to use the variety of human rights instruments in particular cases. They should be able to link what they learned in previous clusters with the aspect of implementation and enforcement. Students, who are often concerned about how to translate the knowledge gained in several clusters into practice, in this part as the final part of the teaching programme should gain an understanding of the manifold ways of implementation of human rights, but also the obstacles and restrictions which might have to be faced in this context.

Independent of the Five Clusters, the short seminars are unique educational activities that in themselves offer similar structure to the overall ERMA Programme. The students are to choose one of the two offered:

SEMINAR TITLE:
GENOCIDE AND GENOCIDAL ATROCITIES IN THEORY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
Seminar leader: Dr. phil. Dennis Gratz

This seminar aims to study, analyze and discuss the legal nature of genocide, its theoretical background as well as its applicability within the international legal protection mechanisms.
The introductory part focuses on the historical perspective of mass killings, allowing the students to detect and compare the systems of genocidal atrocities and its specific characteristics. The students shall in particular analyze the Armenian genocide, Holocaust, Rwandan genocide and some other significant mass killings in the 20th century. This part is followed by an introduction of definitions and terminology for genocide beyond the official definition (UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide). Different theories, concepts and terms shall be compared and discussed. Within this section, the students shall also be able to analyze and evaluate with the complex system of genocide prevention and punishment within the international law. Specific legal terms such as intent, motive, genocide-in-part etc shall be introduced and discussed.
The last part shall cover the specific forms of genocidal crimes, their circumstances of occurrence and their consequences for the victim population. The students shall reflect upon terms such as ethnic cleansing, gendercide, elitocide, war amongst the people etc. Within this part, the students shall learn about the recent conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the special importance of the ICTY verdict on the proven genocide in Srebrenica for the international prevention and detection mechanism.

SEMINAR TITLE: LIFE STORIES AND DIALOGUES
Seminar leader: mr. Nejra Nuna Cengic

The main aim of the seminar is to equip students with both, theoretical and empirical knowledge on life story methodology, identity (es) construction, as well as trans-generational impact of silenced traumatic experiences. It aims to raise awareness on importance and methods of biographical work. Addressing issues that are specific topics of this MA Program, the seminar offers possibility of an empirical reflection on some of subject themes, giving on that way an additional dimension to the overall set of teaching methodology within ERMA. Finally, throughout the seminar it will be shown how in the context of many conflicts in South-east Europe, and particularly recent conflicts in the region of former Yugoslavia, “instead of “paradigmatic narratives,” individual stories could produce a type of bridge over the gaping abyss between the sides” (Bar-On, 2006).

Upon completion of this seminar, students will be able to:
- demonstrate an in-depth knowledge on storytelling model, its advantages and limitations
- conduct biographical interview, transcribe it and analyze
- understand conflictual/dialogical dimension of individual and collective identities
- understand own epistemological position and the concept of situated knowledge

Lectures will be focussed on the following thematic units:
- debate on unspeakable nature of traumatic expereinces and ethical responsibility to inscribe that expereince
- relation between «indiscribable» and «undiscussable»
- personal stories and biographical interviewing
- interview analysis
- ethical issues in biographical interviewing and anlysis
- politics of storytelling
- personal stories and dialogues

The history shows us that events such as wars, social and political crisis, on individual and family level often produce silence about tragic events and suffering that have taken place. In lot of cases this kind of attitude, particularly in the region of South East Europe has been supported by official politics that have been in favor of silencing certain part of history that were not in support of current politics. Storytelling model, understood not as a pure social science method, but as biographical work/process presents one way to approach this issue. Taking the position that trauma can never be fully encompassed, but only what we can do is to mark and circle around it (Zizek in Edkins 2003), ppersonal story is understood as a social construct, in whose analysis, both hermeneutics of faith and suspicion are applied (Josselson, 2004). Unspeakable, does not mean no mentioning of event, but the vital part of it usually is missing. Structural description analysis is there to particularly address that untold parts.
Understanding storytelling as a way of transforming private into public (Arendt in Jackson 2002), the seminar further aims to outline how in the most of cases where testimonies are taking place a supportive environment for that is lacking. There is a lack of an interested Other with whom dialogical relation should be set up.

The seminar is structured as a set of sessions/workshops (20 hours divided into 6 sessions), where each next step will disclose more about complexity of self-identity, and respectively about identity (s) of other participants. Through personal and family members’ life stories that will be discussed among course participants, it is possible not only to notice commonalities and differences in understanding of certain common events (e.g. fall of communism), but also to make comparisons in stories of different generations within one family. Group setting offers possibility for both, an emotional dialogue and intellectual discussion on some common components that within some life stories exist (such as WWII, communist time, fall of communism, post-communism, war, refugee time post-conflict situation, gender relations etc). These themes that are part of the ERMA curriculum, through this course will get an additional dimension.

Visits

Alongside with the lectures and seminars, students have also visits to state institutions, International and Intergovernmental Organizations present and NGOs active in the field of human rights and democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Extra-Curriculum Activities

Throughout the lecturing period in Sarajevo, alongside with the lectures and visits, the students can follow seminars and workshops organized by the academic tutors of the Programme, as well as guest lecturers.
After recognizing the power of the film to educate, influence and stimulate broad public, the MA Programme organizes screenings of human rights films. The main objective of this activity is to promote a forum for debate on human rights, democracy and rule of law, equality, and human development through socially conscious films. It also aims to disclose the human rights abuses, inequality, violence against women and children, social marginalization and exclusion and inspire solidarity, mutual understanding and the importance of personal devotion to human rights through creating effective contact with the victims of the human rights abuses.

Internships across South East Europe

In the second term, during summertime, students take up seven-week assessed internships at selected IGOs, NGOs, think tanks and research institutes across South East Europe. According to the educational structure of the Master's, the second term - mid June to end of July - is designated for student internships in relevant organisations working in the field of human rights and democracy. At that point students will have finished their theoretical education and will be prepared for real-life experience and for applying their knowledge in practice. Under the Programme's Statute, the internship placement will be in a country different to the country of citizenship of the student, decision aiming to promote diversity and different culture experience, believe to be a necessary prerequisite for experts aiming to work in the field of human rights and wrongs.

Writing – up of MA Thesis

During the third term of the programme, in autumn, students write up their Master’s Thesis in Italy, accommodated at premises offered by the University of Bologna. The class stays together in order to emphasise the community building element of the programme. There are short seminar courses aimed at addressing particular issues of interest. Alongside with that, two field trips could be organized. Students are invited to the opening and closing ceremony of the Cervia Summer School of the University of Bologna, where they also follow lectures and presentations of the key note speakers often EU officials and prominent academics dealing with EU integrations and EU affairs. The other field trip could be to the historical city of Venice, where they are visiting the European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratization – sister programme focusing on EU countries.

MA Thesis Defence

The final examination, which is an oral defence of the thesis, takes place in Sarajevo, B&H at the end of October followed by the diploma awarding ceremony. The Defence takes place in front of the Defence Commissions composed by the student’s MA Thesis Supervisor, Second Reader and Chair of the Commission.
The successful students receive the European Regional Master’s Degree Diploma in Democracy and Human Rights in South East Europe, issued jointly by the University of Bologna and the University of Sarajevo.