The Summer School - European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)

The participants of the Summer School 2023 sitting by the Danube while listening to the lecturer during an outside lecture in Novi Sad.

Since its inaugural edition in 2011, the Annual Summer School on National Minorities has emerged as a cornerstone event hosted by the European Centre for Minority Issues. This exclusive one-week program invites scholars, Ph.D., and MA students from diverse disciplines to participate in a comprehensive training course led by international experts in minority and human rights. Each year, the Summer School unfolds beneath a captivating theme, offering an enriching blend of excursions to relevant institutions and lectures by distinguished academics. Join us in exploring the dynamic landscape of national minorities, forging connections, and gaining insights into the different aspects of diversity.

Summer School 2025

Contested Loyalties: Kin-State Influence and Minority Rights in Europe | 24–31 August 2025 | Tallinn, Estonia

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

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.

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
Cultural autonomy as a framework for minority empowerment and self-governance

The programme will consist of lectures, seminars and workshops given by ECMI research staff and expert guest lecturers, including:

Prof. Francesco Palermo (Institute for Comparative Federalism, Eurac research)
Prof. Raivo Vetik (School of Governance, Law and Society, Tallinn University)
Dr. Karolina Lendák-Kabók (University of Novi Sad/Eötvös Loránd University)

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-state policies.
Interactive workshops, world cafés, and discussion sessions for immersive learning experiences.
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.

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

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

 Applicants are required to complete the online application form, which includes questions on general information (contact details, affiliation, practical and logistical information) and motivation. 

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 "SuS25 Application_your surname" in the subject line. 

The application will not be considered for the selection process unless a CV is submitted via email. 

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

Fees

Applicants who submit their completed applications before the Early Bird deadline will be eligible for a reduced fee in the event that they are selected for the programme. Fees will be due to be paid in June.

The tuition fee for the Summer School 2025 is 

Early Bird: €250 (if applied by 6 April 2025)
Standard: €300 (if applied from 7 April 2025).
Without accommodation: €100 (Early Bird) or €150 (Standard).

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) - 31 August 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, visits to museums/exhibition).

Travel costs, as well as visa and health/travel insurance costs will not be reimbursed. 

Cancellation policy

Cancellation until 30 June 2025: 80% of the tuition fee will be refunded, minus any additional incurred costs. 

Cancellations after 30 June 2025: no refund.

The 15th Annual Summer School ‘National Minorities and Border Regions’ is co-organised together with Coppieters Foundation and in cooperation with the School of Governance, Law and Society of Tallinn University.

*** This Summer School is a joint initiative of ECMI and Coppieters Foundation. This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the conference or the opinions of the speakers.

23-03-2025

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Partners

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

***

This event is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the conference or the opinions of the speakers.

Coordinators

Aziz Berdiqulov

Researcher

Further Information

Stanislav Černega

International Communications Coordinator

Further Information