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Modules

 

New Approaches to Global Politics

Prof. Klaus Segbers

This course starts off with instruction on scientific methods, which will prepare the students for writing papers and minutes as well as for conceptualizing presentations. The course will then give an introduction to the emergence of new global structures after the end of the Cold War. This new global context can be characterized as follows: first, by a complex landscape of new and old actors (states, non-governmental organizations, transnational corporations, sub- and supranational regions etc.); second, by a mix of old and new forms of interaction (diplomacy, networks, political movements); third, by new forms of political agency and decision-making (externally driven agendas, ad-hocism, gaps between popular expectations and political feasibility). Some new approaches that will help students to understand the emerging global patchwork will be presented and discussed. The presented approaches will serve as a theoretical framework for the main topic in the following courses.

 

Media and Journalism in the European Context

Siegfried Weischenberg

The purpose of this course is to make the participants familiar with the main characteristics of media and journalism in Europe, so that they may be able to apply their knowledge to sound international comparisons. Thereby emphasis will be laid on the interrelationships between media on the one hand and society and its various subsystems on the other. From a European and particularly German perspective this means for example to concentrate on the idea of broadcasting as a public service (PSB - the BBC model), on processes of political communication in terms of the handling of scandals and on the features of ‘journalism cultures’. The concept of journalism cultures allows to view journalism as a profession with its own traditions, rules, procedures, norms and values and to link the profession to the general political culture of the respective country. Basically it will be shown in this course that media and journalism are strongly linked to the social system in which they operate.

 

Media and Politics in Cambodia

Vichea Tieng

This module consists of three parts. The first part aims to provide the students with knowledge and understanding of Cambodian politics and the Cambodian political system. The second part focuses on Cambodian Media (system), media ownership and freedom of press. The third part is discussed the interrelationship between media and politics. How are the media manipulated? How do media exert political influence? The last part will also look into a growing concern that media seem not to give equal exposure to opposition voices, and if it that is in fact the case, whether it is an issue of policy or rather the editors’ choices.  Finally, it will be examined what can be done to improve this situation and how the needs of the citizens can better be served.

 

Reconciliation Processes in Comparative Perspective

Wolfgang Form

 

Peace and Conflict Resolution in Cambodian Civil Wars

Nhem Boraden

The course is intended to provide the students with an in-depth understanding of the last part of the civil war in Cambodia. The class will focus on the details, rationales, processes, main actors, and challenges of the “Win-Win” strategy that ended the three-decade civil war. Students will be assigned readings on a brief history of Cambodia leading up to the departure of the UNTAC after the 1993 election. The lecture and discussion will center on the termination of political and military structure of the Khmer Rouge and the integration process of former Khmer Rouge soldiers and civilians into the Cambodian society.

 

Regional Conflicts: EU and ASEAN in Comparison/ the Case of the Cambodian-Thai Border

Cheunboran Chanborey

 

EU External Action and Crisis Management

Marco Overhaus

Since 2003, the European Union has emerged as an international actor in crisis management in places as diverse as Bosnia, Congo, Georgia, Afghanistan and Haiti. Observers inside and outside the EU assert that it is particularly well-suited to a ‘comprehensive approach’ to crisis management because it brings together a wide range of civilian and military instruments. In this module we will critically examine this claim.

The first session will offer an overview of the EU as an international actor in terms of historical development, major institutions, and policy fields (from trade policy to foreign- and security policy). On this basis, the focus will then be more specifically on the major goals which the EU pursues in international crisis management and on the civilian and military instruments it has at its disposal in this area. Sessions two, three and four will then focus on specific case studies – Bosnia, Congo, Afghanistan, respectively. The guiding questions for each case study will be as follows: Which particular goals did the EU pursue, to what extend was it able to achieve the stated goals and which were the major obstacles and problems in this regard?

 

Vietnam as a Regional (Security) Player

Pham Quang Minh

The main objective of the course is to analyze the role of Vietnam in the regional security architecture. In order to do so, the course is divided into three sections including, first of all, an overview of regional security concepts, the regional actors and new security challenges and last but not least the way of Vietnam acting in this environment.

 

Simulation Game: A Peace Plan for Rosania

Björn Warkalla

After a 3-year civil war in the fictitious country of Rosania, in which many people have died on all sides and many were forced to flee, the conflict parties have agreed to hold peace talks. The negotiations under the auspices of the League of Nations include the country’s neighbours and focus on both security as well as state-building issues. In this simulation game, students will take on the roles of actors taking part in the peace talks and learn to understand the dynamics of international politics and the intricacies of making peace in a divided country.

 

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Program History

The course topics change from year to year. To get an impression of the variety of themes that may be addressed during a Seasonal School, find below brief descriptions of modules taught in previous years.

 

Global City Regions

Magali Menant

Since 2008 more than half of the world’s population lives in cities; around 25 megacities are faced with growth challenges at all levels. As with size comes increasing flows of capital, people, knowledge, cities have at the same time become important actors on the world stage. While megacities are thought to improve efficiency and raise productivity, the current discussion over their planning and management is also accompanied by a debate on their real role and impact on international relations. The sessions will look at three of the dimensions of urbanisation: the role of megacities in creating wealth and providing opportunities, the overall environmental sustainability as well as the potential for cultural identity development in the urban space. What tools are needed to manage those new entities? We will discuss the need for appropriate institutions, policies and instruments (such as city networks and city marketing) for a sustainable development of cities.

 

Regional Economic Integration: The Case of ASEAN

Bui Thanh Nam

Since the 1970s, East Asia has been emerging as a dynamic economic powerhouse. The development pattern of East Asian economies was traditionally described by the so-called “flying geese” model. This model made Japan as the leading goose, followed by the newly industrializing economies (NIEs) – Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. However, since the end of the Cold War, East Asian economies have witnessed a new trend of development. On the one hand, after more than 30 years of economic reform, China has become an important global power. On the other hand, ASEAN has also become an engine of a regional integration, with the unique feature of lacking a primary leader in economic or political terms. This lecture will analyze the (South) East Asian economic integration process based on a complex approach, and try to discuss the opportunities and challenges for further regional integration.

 

The EU after Lisbon - Integration and External Action

Carina Sprungk

The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force in December 2009 and is since the legal basis of the European Union (EU). The central question addressed in this course is how the reforms included in the Lisbon Treaty have changed both the internal structure of the EU and its external relations. Following an online introduction to the institutional, economic and political background of the EU, the course will provide an overview of the origin and the various reforms of the Lisbon Treaty and the corresponding political and academic debates. The second part critically discusses the significance of the reforms for the domestic legitimacy and effectiveness of EU and member state politics. The last part analyzes the effect of the Lisbon Treaty on the EU’s ability and willingness to effectively act as a global player.

 

European Policy-Making - An Insider’s View

Anna Cavazzini

What does European integration really look like? How is it in practice when so many actors - like the different EU institutions plus the EU member states - have to work together and so many interests are at stake, like it is in European policy making? This module will address these questions by means of concrete examples coming from different policy areas. The first session will give an introduction about "Brussels", some day-to-day experience of how this big EU machinery works in reality and about the most recent big debates going on at the moment. The second session will look deeper into EU climate policy, a relatively integrated policy field. It will assess the different mechanisms in place and its shortcomings. The third session deals with one of the most important but obviously less integrated policy fields: foreign policy. It is always claimed that the EU is an economic giant but a dwarf when it comes to foreign policy. The session will explain the reasons for that and outline the most recent development of establishing an European External Action service.

 

International Negotiations on Climate Change (Simulation Game)

Simon Raiser and Björn Warkalla

Record temperature highs and devastating storms, melting glaciers and growing deserts – the consequences of climate change are already palpable today. This game simulates an international climate conference attended by state representatives, the global civil society and the press. On the basis of a draft resolution the actors negotiate measures to protect the climate. Can the state representatives agree on new reduction targets for COs-emissions? Can the US be persuaded to join the Post-Kyoto process? And which role do the emerging economies of China and India play in the negotiations?