Trans-Atlantic Relations Summer School: July 7-19, 2008, Istanbul
The Standing Group on International Relations of the European Consortium for Political Research has the pleasure to announce the 2008 European International Relations Summer School session for PhD students. The EIRSS 2008 will be hosted by Istanbul Bilgi University, Department of International Relations, Istanbul, Turkey, on July 7-19, 2008.
The main theme of the EIRSS 2008 is “Trans-Atlantic Relations.” This is an interesing time to study Trans-Atlatic relationship and its key institutions which have been in a process of transition and transformation since the 9/11 and the Iraqi War of 2003. While the former helped renew the Trans-Atlantic solidarity momentarily, the latter have severely strained both traditional patterns of the relationship and its institutions. The US unilateralism and the European emphasis on multilateralism have set the two sides of the Atlantic further apart. Despite recent damage control efforts, the Trans-Atlantic relationship remains at a cross-roads which may lead to a re-definion (and maybe a re-destribution) of functions of the two key institutions (NATO and EU) to meet the challanges of the post-9/11 world. Having hosted the NATO Summit in 2004 where the Alliance launched its “Istanbul Cooperation Initiative” towards the broader Middle East region as a part of its transformation efforts, the city of Istanbul offers an appropriate venue to focus attention on the past, present and future of the Trans-Atlantic relations.
The EIRSS 2008 will consist of 48 lecture hours plus round table discussion sessions as well as presentations of research papers by the participants. Scheduled activities also include weekend city excursions and study trips. Lectures will be delivered in the form of 12-hour intensive modules on History and Current State of Transatlantic Relations, European and North American Views on Transatlantic Relations, NATO and Collective Security, and Trans-Atlantic Institutions and Global Governance.
Summer School Director: Professor Sule Kut (skut@bilgi.edu.tr)
Host Institution Coordinator: Dr. Serhat Guvenc (serhatg@bilgi.edu.tr)
Summer School Assistant: Yesim Pekiner
For more information please visit: http://www.sgir.org/eirss.htm
