Aris Dougas (Graz), Oliver Kannenberg (Halle), Enej Lovrečič (Graz), Gresa Morina (Regensburg), Johannes Nüßer (Regensburg), Anna Richter (Regensburg) and Sophia Strähhuber (Jena)
Organiser: Southeast European Studies Student Symposium and Southeast Europe Association
Date and location: 4-6 April 2024, online via Zoom
The Southeast European Studies (SEES) Student Symposium originated as an initiative by students from the universities of Graz, Jena and Regensburg. The overarching aim of the Symposium is to provide an opportunity for networking among undergraduate and graduate students who have a subject-related connection to Southeast Europe. Furthermore, it was conceptualised as a platform for exchange and feedback on current research papers and projects, thus resulting in a wide range of topics.
In total, 63 participants registered for the Symposium, including 17 presenters who were previously selected. While most of the registered participants came from all three German-speaking countries, the Symposium was attended by participants coming from six different countries, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania and Slovenia. The participants’ contributions employed perspectives from various disciplines, including history, political science, international relations, anthropology, cultural studies, Slavic studies and law.
Day 1, Room 1
Ramona Dima’s opening keynote lecture titled “Filling up the Gaps: Queer Research in the Romanian Academia” was based on a biographical approach and dealt with LGBTQ research in Romania from a long-term historical perspective.
Day 2, Room 1
the first panel in Room 1 started with a presentation by Peter Wagener (Chemnitz) titled “The Memory of the Holocaust in North Macedonia. National Narratives in a European Context”. Peter gave an overview of the Holocaust in Macedonia, which was occupied by Bulgaria at the time. 98% of all Macedonian Jews were deported and did not survive the Shoah. Peter focused on the of a national culture of remembrance in the context of far-reaching political events
Anela Dumonjić (Graz) held the second presentation on the topic of her master thesis, “’I want my son back the way he was.’ The Embodied Reality of Loss in Daytonesque Bosnia and Herzegovina”. Anela introduced the key data of the genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, showed what role necropolitics played in this and explained that bodies and physical experiences are central elements of the politics of remembrance.
The second panel opened with Bekim Lahi (Graz), who presented the draft of his Master’s thesis on “Deterioration of Queer Rights under the Auspices of the European Non-Discrimination Regime in Serbia”. Bekim’s research question of how European non-discriminatory frameworks, competitive authoritarianism and a challenged civil society led to the deteriorating situation of Queer people in Serbia.
Anna Charlotte Richter (Regensburg) presented the WIP (Work-In-Progress) of her Master’s thesis titled “Election Law Reform and Constitutional Implications in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” delving into the intersection of election law reform and constitutional dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By addressing the complexities of the failed transfer of institutions and integrating perspectives from diverse disciplines.
Day 2, Room 2
Chara Polydorou (Piraeus) presented her Bachelor’s thesis on “The Role of the EU in the Efforts Made to Resolve the Kosovo Issue” to ten participants. She examined the role of the EU in the conflict, referring to its role as a mediator in combination with the soft power and influence that it can exert by utilizing the economic means, technical know-how and institutional experience.
The second presentation was held by Vanja Tadić (Graz) on her Master’s thesis titled “Shifts and Changes along the Balkan Route – the Impact of EU Integration at the Border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina”. Vanja discussed how these possible changes had an impact on individuals crossing the border, the locals living there and the relationship between the two states.
Diana Dukati (Piraeus) presented her Bachelor’s thesis and discussed “The Kosovo Conflict. From Ahtisaari Plan until Today. The Consequences in the Regional Subsystem of Southeastern Europe”. Diana explored the challenges surrounding Kosovo’s secession, the involvement of the Great Powers in Southeast Europe, and their biases towards specific minorities in the region.
The panel concluded with Timoleon Ilias (Piraeus) who presented the WIP of his Bachelor’s thesis on “The European Western Balkans Policy in the post-Dayton Period”. He delved into the impact of the Bosnian crisis and the shortcomings of the Dayton Agreement on reshaping the European approach towards the Western Balkan countries, highlighting the EU’s increased involvement in the region and the use of soft power to promote democratic reforms
Day 2, Room 1
Workshop1: During this workshop on dealing with rejection. Katarina Kušić and ten participants focused on how stigma is attached to failure and how societal expectations and capitalist circumstances shape our perception of success and failure. She challenged the idea of creating an individual brand of research, emphasising the importance of working on topics which one is passionate about.
Day 2, Room 2 – Workshop “On Choice: Translating Literature from Southeastern Europe”
Workshop 2: During her workshop “On Choice: Translating Literature from Southeastern Europe”, Ena Selimović explored with her seven attendees the concept of choice in translation, examining various aspects such as language selection, internal and external factors influencing translation decisions, and the role of translators as editors and agents.
Day 2, Room 1
During his portrayal on the state of quantitative data collection in Southeast Europe, Siegfried Gruber introduced empirical data from household registers as part of their current project. the session provided valuable insights into the region’s demographics and socioeconomic trends.
Day 3, Room 1
The first panel’s opening presentation featured Katalin Kósza (Regensburg), who explored the emotional landscape within the Hungarian community in Germany. The presentation focused on post-migrant perspectives on identity, tradition and homeland attachment. Katalin gave insights into her qualitative interviews with members of a Hungarian dance club in Munich, prompting a discussion on doing good interviews and building trust and relationships.
Ivana Dinić (Regensburg) discussed the current state of her Master’s thesis on “Coalitional Empowerment in a Peacebuilding Initiative for Young Women from Kosovo and Serbia.” The presentation focused on the dialogue between Serbian and Kosovar women in the OSCE Dialogue Academy for Young Women.
The second panel started with Amina Bahović (Sarajevo) presenting her Bachelor’s thesis “Second Thoughts? A Study of Determinants Influencing Field Changes after Graduation among Recent Graduates of a Political Science Major at a Small University.” Using mixed methods, Amina explored career changes which were important during Covid and the Great Resignation.
Philip Piljić (Graz) touched upon his B.A. thesis about Alija Izetbegović’s Islamic Declaration and the reaction from Yugoslavia and other international agents. He mainly focused on the content of the Declaration and discussed whether it represented any real threats to the Socialist regime in Yugoslavia.
Nikola Donev (Skopje) held a talk titled “North Macedonia: Between Emancipation and Nationalism”. He presented his current research on the effect of schools on national identity-building in North Macedonia after the fall of Yugoslavia. Focusing on school history textbooks, Nikola showed how the narrative of the ‘other’ has been constructed.
Day 3, Room 2
With Konstantinos Katiniotis (Piraeus), who opened it with his presentation “NATO’s Enlargement to Eastern Europe and Ukraine: Consequences for Southeastern Europe”. He delved into the historical background of NATO and its enlargement, particularly focusing on its implications for Southeastern Europe. As part of the historical background, he highlighted the geostrategic significance of Greece and Turkey within NATO and discussed the challenges posed by the Yugoslav Wars. Despite ongoing interstate disputes, Konstantinos argued that NATO’s presence has contributed to stabilising Southeastern Europe.
Kejda Mihai’s (Piraeus) presentation “The SEE Dimension on Ukraine’s Public Diplomacy Strategy During the Russian-Ukrainian War of 2022” examined Ukraine’s public diplomacy strategy amid Russia’s full-scale war of aggression, emphasising Ukraine’s efforts to distinguish itself from Russia. Kejda outlined Ukraine’s diplomatic initiatives, including enhanced interparliamentary contacts and cultural diplomacy with Balkan countries, aimed at countering Russian influence and integrating into the EU and NATO.
Day 3, Room 1
Aleksandra Tomanić, Executive Director of the European Fund for the Balkans, gave insights into her professional biography. With a background that includes tenure at the European Commission’s DG Enlargement and the esteemed German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
In summary, the second edition of the SEES Student Symposium successfully achieved its goal of bringing together students passionate about Southeast Europe. The presentations sparked productive discussions, and the keynote and workshops provided valuable insights, fostering new connections with wonderful people from different countries and fields of research.
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