seeFField

Workshop - Journalismus zu Südosteuropa
2023-04-28 - 2023-04-29 | University Regensburg & IOS, Germany
Leitung: Franziska Tschinderle (Journalistin, Tirana)
Der Workshop richtet sich an Studierende der Universität Regensburg ohne journalistische Vorkenntnisse, die nach ihrem Studium erwägen, in den Journalismus zu wechseln, sei es als Redakteur:innen oder Reporter:innen. Aber nicht nur: Auch Studierende, die in der Forschung, Zivilgesellschaft oder Politikberatung tätig sein wollen, können davon profitieren, da sie früher oder später in irgendeiner Form mit der Öffentlichkeit kommunizieren müssen oder wollen. Generell dient der Kurs dazu, den Beruf des:der Journalist:in aus der Praxis zu verstehen.
Teil Eins soll einen Einblick in Franziska Tschinderles Arbeit geben: Die Journalistin erzählt, wie sie in den Job eingestiegen ist, was es ihrer Meinung nach dafür braucht und worauf man im Studium viel zu wenig vorbereitet wird. Anhand von konkreten Recherchen gehen wir die unterschiedlichen Formate durch. Was braucht es für eine lange Reportage, die stark sozialpolitische ausgerichtet ist (z.B. ein Jahr ein Milieu oder eine Person in den Fokus nimmt)? Wie schreibt man ein Politiker:innen-Porträt mit Integrität, professioneller Distanz und gleichzeitig intimen Details? Wie macht man Breaking-News Geschichten für das Radio, die schnell fertiggestellt sein müssen? Was unterscheidet Storytelling im Podcast-Format von einer Print-Geschichte? Und was müssen Journalist:innen für ein so genanntes Live-Gespräch im Radio können?
Teil Zwei geht weg von Tschinderles Fallbeispielen und behandelt allgemein die Medienlandschaft und Informationsbeschaffung in Südosteuropa. Wie sehen positive sowie negative Beispiele aus den Medien aus, auf die man vorbereitet sein muss? Anschließend beschäftigen wir uns vor allem mit dem Thema der Informationsbeschaffung. Wie recherchiert man angemessen für bestimmte Beiträge? Bei welchen Quellen muss man vorsichtig sein und was ist On/Off the Record? Wie schützt man Quellen, die anonym bleiben möchten und welche Formate der Anonymisierung gibt es?
Für alle Formate werden ausschließlich Themen aus Südosteuropa im Mittelpunkt stehen: der Kosovo-Serbien-Konflikt und die Stadt Mitrovica, Porträts von Politiker:innen in der Praxis, Umweltthemen in Albanien und der Umgang mit der Zivilgesellschaft sowie eine exemplarische, investigative Recherche (organisierte Kriminalität in Südosteuropa anhand von betrügerischen Forex-Call-Centern).
Anmeldung: Schickt uns eine kurze Motivation (max. 300 Wörter) und Biografie von euch mit Angaben zum Studiengang und Semester (max. 100 Wörter) bis 1. April 2023: fachschaftsuedost@gmail.com

International conference: “The transnational history and memory of World War II crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and the northern Adriatic”
2023-05-12 18:00 - 2023-05-14 13:00 UTC | IOS, Landshuterstr. 4, R 319, Germany
The research literature on the war crimes committed in Southeastern Europe during the Second World War and their (ever-changing) place in collective memory fills entire libraries. Nevertheless, these crimes are hardly anchored in the pan-European memory. This is partly due to the fact that, on the one hand, the political instrumentalization of the history of the Second World War in Southeastern Europe continues to this day—for example, through the simplistic assignment of victim and perpetrator roles along the lines of ethnicity or through historical-political and historical revisionist debates about the number of victims of crimes. However, this is also due to the fact that the crimes committed by the occupying powers in Southeastern Europe and their victims are rarely present in the public culture of remembrance, for example, in today’s Federal Republic of Germany or in Italy.
During the conference, the panelists will deal with the transnational history and memory of marginalized and forgotten sites in Southeastern Europe where genocide and systematic murder took place during the Second World War.
The conference is financed by Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft e.V. and by the European Union through the CERV program, as part of the project „Between memory and oblivion: WWII places of remembrance (BMO)”.
To follow the online panels „Forgotten places of World War Two”, on Saturday 13 May, from 09:00 to 11:00; and „Holocaust and genocide memorialisation after the war and nowadays”, on Sunday 14 May, from 9:30 to 11:30, please register here.
Here you can download the program of the conference.

Southeast European Studies Online Platform: New Research in Southeast European Studies
2023-05-17 14:00 - 16:00 | via Zoom
Petar Dobrev (CAS Sofia): “The fight against the kulaks in Bulgaria – the fate of the large landowners in Dobrudja after 1944”
Abstract: Although small in percentage, until September 9, 1944 in Bulgaria there was an influential layer of large landowners. The so-called chiflikchii owned large farms mainly in Dobrudja, which was returned to the borders of the country with the Craiova Agreement of 1940. In addition to adapting to the change of state borders, this stratum would soon experience a change of regime. If initially the new communist government was relatively tolerant of the big landowners, then at the end of 1947 the regime began a serious attack on them as “kulaks”. In my research I will follow the liquidation of large land holdings in the region of Dobrudja, which in terms of historiography, has so far remained in the shadow of the general processes of collectivization in Bulgaria.
Lovro Kralj (University of Rijeka): “The Holocaust in Southeastern Europe in a Comparative Perspective”
Abstract: This talk discussed the importance of further (re)integrating southeastern Europe into the international Holocaust historiography. By employing asymmetrical comparison of Croatia with Romania and Bulgaria this talk analyzes the similarities and differences in the implementation of the Holocaust. Do different types of regimes, ideologies, antisemitism, or international relations (e.g., with Nazi Germany) explain the temporal and geographic variations in the implementation of the Holocaust in the three countries? We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of integrating different approaches and methodologies from the fields of Holocaust, fascism and antisemitism studies. While these three fields remain largely isolated from each other, a synthetical approach can explain various entanglements and divergences in the implementation of mass violence during the Second World War in southeastern Europe.
https://uni-regensburg.zoom.us/j/62411825548?pwd=[REDACTED]
(Meeting-ID: 624 1182 5548, Kenncode: [REDACTED])
Link to the whole programme

SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2023-05-24 14:00 - 16:00 | University Regensburg, H24 Vielberth-Gebäude, Germany
Dr Katarina Damčević (seeFField visiting fellow) will give a talk on
“Ready for the Homeland? The Case of the HOS Memorial Plaque“
Time: 2-4 pm
Venue: University Regensburg, H24, Vielberth-Gebäude
Abstract: The war of symbols and the rise of nationalistically fuelled hate speech have become prominent in contemporary Croatia and are predominantly reflected through the presence of Ustaša insignia. While legacies of WWII and the Homeland War have triggered debates on multiple occasions in the past, a case from 2016 even briefly threatened to topple the government. Namely, on 5 November 2016 right-wing politicians and veterans of the paramilitary unit of the Croatian Defense Forces erected a memorial plaque to eleven fallen comrades near the Jasenovac Concentration Camp Memorial Site. The plaque included the Ustaša salute Za dom spremni and triggered a local and international backlash that led to an almost year-long debate among the political leadership in Croatia. This presentation aims to place the case of the memorial plaque in a wider meaning-making framework and outline some of the main tendencies that served to reinforce and preserve the established meanings surrounding the 1990s Homeland War.
Snacken with Balkans Snacks

Den Balkan in Bildern neu denken. Eine Ausstellung.
2023-05-25 18:00 - 2023-06-23 18:00 | Universitätsbibliothek
Kaum eine Region Europas ist so stark mit Vorurteilen und Klischees behaftet wie der Balkan. Diese werden der Vielfalt der Lebensrealitäten in der Region nicht gerecht, sagen aber einiges darüber aus, wie wir Fremdheit wahrnehmen.
Die Ausstellung „Den Balkan in Bildern neu denken“ bricht mit diesen Vorstellungen und schlägt neue Blickwinkel vor. Sie zeigt Bilder des bekannten Stern-Fotografen Harald Schmitt, der in den letzten Jahren mehrfach Südosteuropa bereist hat.
Kuratiert wurde die Ausstellung von Studierenden der Universität Regensburg.
Die Eröffnung findet am 25. Mai um 18 Uhr im Foyer der Universitätsbibliothek (an der Rupfenwand) statt. Alle Interessierten sind herzlich eingeladen.
Programm der Ausstellungseröffnung, 25.5.2023, 18 Uhr
Heike Karge (UR): Begrüßung
Caroline Finkeldey (BSB): Die STERN-Fotosammlung in der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek
Amina Smajlović (UR): Einführung in die Ausstellung
Harald Schmitt (Hamburg): Den Balkan abbilden

Wir bedanken uns für die Unterstützung bei: Universitätsbibliothek der Uni Regensburg, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Projekt seeffield und VolkswagenStiftung, Graduiertenschule für Ost- und Südosteuropastudien, Leibniz-Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung.

SERBIA: Freedom of media and freedom of expression
2023-06-06 18:30 - 20:00 | VHS, Thon-Dittmer-Palais, Haidplatz 8, R 219
In 2023, Irene Khan, the Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council on the right to freedom of expression, stated that the state of affairs regarding media in Serbia is alarming, the situation being one of “toxic public discourse, from politicians or public officials and amplified by tabloids, scapegoating the media, human rights defenders, ethnic minorities, LGBTI and those critical of the government”. How does this situation influence the day-to-day work of a journalist at an independent news outlet? Is there space for action and change from the perspective of a socially engaged journalist interested in interreligious and intercultural dialogue? These are but a few topics Jelena Jorgačević-Kisić will address in her talk.
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Klaus Buchenau
Journalist Talks series is part of the seeFField project of the University of Regensburg, in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Regensburg and Leibniz Institute of East and Southeast European Studies (IOS) in Regensburg.

Southeast European Studies Online Platform: New Research in Southeast European Studies
2023-06-14 14:00 - 16:00 | via Zoom
Martin Valkov (CAS Sofia): “Beyond Totalitarianism: Mass Internment, Concentration Camps and Forced Labor in Bulgaria in the 20th Century“
Abstract: My presentation will provide a general overview of civilian internment, concentration camps, and forced labor in Bulgaria during the 20th century. The presentation is based on my current project at the Centre for Advanced Study – Sofia and is designed as a longue durée study of extralegal detention in one country asking broader questions about the repressive potential of the modern state. It challenges the basic assumptions of Bulgarian historiography about the nature of these repressive practices and institutions as unique to only totalitarian dictatorships by offering a different perspective on their origins, development, and history in Bulgarian context. Informed by the recent global turn in the study of concentration camps it aims to integrate the Bulgarian case into the wider European and global perspective.
Edvin Pezo (IOS Regensburg): “The organization of power and rule in socialist Yugoslavia, 1944-1966. Institutional components and challenges under Aleksandar Ranković”
Abstract: The organization of power and rule is one of the most essential components of modern state and social policy. In states governed by communist parties, special importance was attached to this because of their claim to rule over all aspects of society. In my lecture I want to focus on a “transitional period” of Yugoslav political history associated with considerable and violent state intervention as with the infamous Yugoslav politician Aleksandar Ranković. During his political career Yugoslavia “rose” from the ruins of the Second World War under a rigid and Stalinist-influenced state leadership while small but decisive steps were taken for the subsequent liberalization of the country. Using a partly biographical approach, Ranković serves here as an approach to explore more closely contemporary circumstances, the (dys)functionality of existing institutional structures and aspects of personalized power/rule.
https://uni-regensburg.zoom.us/j/62411825548?pwd=[REDACTED]
(Meeting-ID: 624 1182 5548, Kenncode: [REDACTED])
Link to the whole programme

SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2023-06-21 14:00 - 16:00 | University Regensburg, SG. 214, Sammelgebäude
Dr Marina Vulović (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) will give a talk on
“Current Challenges to EU Accession of the Western Balkan Countries“
Time: 2-4 pm
Venue: University Regensburg, SG. 214, Sammelgebäude
Abstract: Since 2022, the EU has revived its enlargement policy in the Western Balkans as a response to changed geopolitical circumstances following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This is evident in its re-engagement in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, granting candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and welcoming Kosovo’s EU membership application. However, the reform process in the Western Balkans has stagnated for years and critical voices take issue with the EU’s capacity to keep these countries on a European path given the rise of Euroscepticism, lack of EU credibility in the enlargement process, and the increased engagement of non-EU actors such as China with the region in the last few years. The lecture thus focuses on current challenges to EU accession of the Western Balkan countries and problematizes whether and how the EU can respond to them. What can be expected for the future of the EU enlargement process in the region?
Snacken with Balkans Snacks Test

Southeast European Studies Online Platform: New Research in Southeast European Studies
2023-07-05 14:00 - 16:00 | via Zoom
Slavka Karakusheva (CAS Sofia): “Patriots and Compatriots: Migrations of Turkish and Muslim Populations from Bulgaria to Turkey (1925-1939)”
Abstract: In 1925 Bulgaria and Turkey signed a Treaty of Friendship. According to its provisions, both countries agreed (not only) to guarantee protection of the other one’s minority in their lands, but also to allow the voluntary emigration of members of these minorities to the territory of the other one. This was the first agreement between the two states aimed to legalise, govern and control population resettlements, which was implemented in practice. It would set the grounds for mainly Turkish and Muslim migrations through their common border for the following decades. The research studies the historical dynamics of these migrations, analysed within the larger framework of the two nation states’ population politics, state- and nation-building processes, and practices of ethnic and demographic engineering. The study investigates comparatively how Bulgaria and Turkey developed specific strategies to homogenise the previously demographically heterogeneous territories along ethnic, religious, and cultural lines. It traces how migration flows were affected by the redefinition of citizenship and nationhood boundaries, identity categories, acceptance frameworks.
Sara Žerić (IOS Regensburg): “Migration and Development in Socialist Yugoslavia: The Gastarbeiter Factories (devizne fabrike)”
Abstract: In 1973, external migration from Yugoslavia reached its maximum number, and at the same time, the peak was also marked by the inflow of remittances from Yugoslav migrants. The Yugoslav government recognized the importance of these remittances for the economic development of the country, and the migrants themselves were willing to use the remittances if they would enable them to return to the country and work in the social sector. This is exactly how the project of “remittances factories” – that is, factories that were created by investing remittances of Yugoslav migrants in local industry – came about in the early 1970s. In this regard, the question arises – can these factors influence local development? This presentation will put forward an initial thesis regarding this type of investment in order of better understanding of these phenomena. Also, it will analyse the working model of these factories – I will present a role of the Organization of Associated Labour, the individual worker (returnee migrant) and the bank. In addition, with a critical approach to contemporary studies, I will look at the advantages and disadvantages of state policy regarding the operation of these factories.
https://uni-regensburg.zoom.us/j/62411825548?pwd=[REDACTED]
(Meeting-ID: 624 1182 5548, Kenncode: [REDACTED])
Link to the whole programme

"Sorbisch für alle" - aktuelle sprachenpolitische Maßnahmen, in der Öffentlichkeit, den Medien und im Bildungswesen der Lausitzer Sorben
2023-07-06 16:00 - 18:00 | University Regensburg, VG 1.30, Universität Regensburg, VG 1.30, Germany

SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2023-07-12 14:00 - 16:00
Blerina Kelmendi (LMU München) will give a talk on
“ Drei Generationen, zwei Sprachen, ein Sprachmosaik. Eine Untersuchung von Sprachmischungen innerhalb eines albanisch-deutsch bilingualen Familiennetzwerks“
Time: 2-4 pm
Venue: University Regensburg, W113 Recht und Wirtschaft
Abstract: Das Mischen von Sprachen ist ein typisches Phänomen in zweisprachigen Gemeinschaften. Dabei gibt es verschiedene Gründe, weshalb bilinguale Sprecherinnen und Sprecher innerhalb eines Gesprächs zwischen ihren Sprachen wechseln und ob es sich bei den anderssprachigen Elementen um einzelne Wörter, Mehrwort-Äußerungen oder ganze Sätze handelt. In meinem Vortrag stelle ich die vorläufigen Ergebnisse meines Dissertationsprojekts vor, welches sich mit Sprachmischungen innerhalb einer albanisch-deutsch bilingualen Familie in Deutschland, über drei Generationen hinweg beschäftigt. Die Familie besteht aus 13 Familienmitgliedern, die drei verschiedenen (Sprach-)Generationen angehören. Von besonderem Interesse sind das Sprachmischungsverhalten innerhalb und zwischen den Generationen. Durch die Kombination aus sozilinguistischen, strukturellen, funktionalen und psycholinguistischen Ansätzen, sollen Erklärungen für das Sprachmischungs-Verhalten der Familienmitglieder gewonnen werden. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, wurde ein Korpus aus spontansprachlichen Daten, die von den Familienmitgliedern innerhalb des Netzwerks selbst aufgezeichnet wurden, erstellt und ausgewertet. Zusätzlich wurden sprachbiographische Interviews mit allen Familienmitgliedern in deutscher und albanischer Sprache geführt und in die Analyse miteingeschlossen.
Snacken with Balkans Snacks

Journalist Talks SERBIA: Media and the Past. War Crimes in Contemporary Serbian Media
2023-10-10 18:00 - 19:30 | VHS, Thon-Dittmer-Palais, Haidplatz 8, R 219
Based in Belgrade, Milica Stojanović works on stories related to transitional justice in Serbia. Before joining BIRN, Milica worked, for five years, at the Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia (CINS), where she covered topics such as the judiciary, energy and public spending. She holds seven domestic and international awards in total, alone or as a member of the CINS team, for her stories about the judiciary, corruption, or the environment.
The talk will consist of three main topics: media coverage of war crime trials, how many of them are currently ongoing and which are covered by Serbian mainstream media, and how; media coverage on memorialisation of the most notorious war crimes, what and how exactly they are covered in Serbian media; and general media coverage of the 1990s wars. Upon first glance at the amount of content related to the 1990s wars, the Serbian media does not look silent or ignorant when it comes to dealing with the past. Upon the second, however, a clear intention can be seen to stay silent about the crimes committed and the state institutions involved. At the same time, the “victim narrative” is maintained, not backed up by genuine care about the victims but considering only the potential for use in daily politics.
Moderation: Klaus Buchenau
Journalist Talks im Rahmen des Projektes seeFField der Universität Regensburg in Zusammenarbeit mit der Volkshochschule.
Mehr Informationen unter https://www.vhs-regensburg.de/versteckte-seiten/kurssuche/kurs/Media+and+the+Past+War+Crimes+in+Contemporary+Serbian+Media/nr/H13701/bereich/details/

SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2023-10-17 16:00 - 18:00 | IOS, Landshuterstr. 4, R 017
Emilija Cvetković (Institute of Economic Sciences Belgrade) will give a talk on
“Yugoslav-American Joint Ventures: The case study of “Ei-Honeywell”
Time: 4-6 pm
Venue: IOS, R017
Abstract: Yugoslavia, as a pioneering socialist country embracing joint ventures, enriched its economic relations with the United States in the late 1960s through these specific foreign investment regulations. In 1978, “Elektronska industrija,” the giant from Niš in the field of electronic industry, “Progres,” a Belgrade export-oriented enterprise, and American company “Honeywell” formed a joint venture. Their collaborative efforts were focused on producing computers and related equipment under an American license. This lecture will delve into a meticulous examination of the “Ei-Honeywell” joint venture, employing diverse sources such as periodicals, oral histories, and archival material. Special attention will be devoted to exploring the dynamics surrounding the transfer of American technologies, encompassing equipment, production processes, and the expertise of managerial personnel, alongside their adaptation within the local context. Furthermore, this case study contributes to understanding Yugoslavia’s business history and sheds light on the Yugoslav economic cooperation with the West during the Cold War.
Snacken with Balkans Snacks

Journalist Talks : Putins zweite Front? - Der Balkan als Konfliktzone zwischen West und Ost
2023-10-23 18:30 - 20:00 | VHS, Thon-Dittmer-Palais, Haidplatz 8
Dr. Gregor Mayer, Südosteuropa-Korrespondent der Deutschen Presse-Agentur (dpa) spricht über die aktuelle realpolitische Stellung des Balkans vor dem Hintergrund des russischen Angriffskriegs gegen die Ukraine. Stillstand bei der EU-Annäherung einerseits, Destabilisierung der Region durch Russland andererseits. Die USA und die EU setzen auf die regional “großen” Akteure: Serbien, Albanien, Kroatien. Der Westen glaubt, auf diese Weise Stabilität an der südosteuropäischen Flanke zu gewinnen. Eine fatale Fehleinschätzung?
Moderation: Ulf Brunnbauer
Journalist Talks im Rahmen des Projektes seeFField der Universität Regensburg in Zusammenarbeit mit der Volkshochschule.
Mehr Informationen unter https://www.vhs-regensburg.de/versteckte-seiten/kurssuche/kurs/Putins+zweite+Front+Der+Balkan+als+Konfliktzone+zwischen+West+und+Ost/nr/H13700/bereich/details/

Lesung: "Tausend und ein Morgen" von Ilija Trojanow
2023-11-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Bücher Pustet, Gesandtenstraße 6-8
Wir laden herzlich zur Buchvorstellung ein, bei der Raum und Zeit auf faszinierende Weise verschmelzen. Die Veranstaltung wird von Prof. Ursula Regener von der Universität Regensburg moderiert und in Kooperation mit der Graduiertenschule für Ost- und Südosteuropastudien sowie dem Leibniz-WissenschaftsCampus Regensburg organisiert.
In “Tausend und ein Morgen” nimmt uns Ilija Trojanow mit auf eine außergewöhnliche literarische Reise. Die Hauptprotagonistin Cya reist durch die Zeit und erlebt verschiedene Epochen, von der Welt der Piraten in der Karibik bis zu den Wirren der Russischen Revolution. Inspiriert von der friedlichen und selbstbestimmten Gesellschaft ihrer Zukunft, versucht sie, die Vergangenheit von ihren Fesseln zu befreien. Doch ihre Zeitreisen halten stets Überraschungen bereit.
Der Roman zeichnet ein leidenschaftliches Porträt von Cya und zeigt, wie sie gegen die Strömung der Zeit ankämpft. Ilija Trojanow kombiniert erzählerische Virtuosität mit kritischem Denken und wirft einen frischen Blick in die Zukunft. “Tausend und ein Morgen” erzählt von der unerschöpflichen Kraft des Denkens und lädt zur Diskussion über dieses außergewöhnliche literarische Werk ein.
Die Veranstaltung findet am 7. November 2023 um 19:30 Uhr bei Bücher Pustet in der Gesandtenstraße 6 – 8 statt. Wir freuen uns auf Ihr zahlreiches Erscheinen und auf anregende Gespräche über diese einzigartige literarische Reise.

SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2023-11-08 14:00 - 16:00 | IOS, Landshuterstr. 4, R 017
Dr Annemarie Sorescu Marinković (Institute for Balkan Studies Belgrade) will give a talk on
“What does mother tongue mean to you?” On the meaning of the concept in vulnerable linguistic communities“
Time: 2-4pm
Venue: IOS, R017
Abstract: Mother tongue is a familiar concept, frequently used, but most often intuitively understood and difficult to define. Even if today it occupies a central place in linguistics, curricula and censuses, the speakers’ understanding of the term does not necessarily overlap with what is meant by researchers and policy makers. The aim of this presentation is to shed light on the intricacies connected to the use of the term mother tongue by the speakers themselves. The main frame of reference is the contemporary vulnerable linguistic communities of Serbia, as it is especially in such bilingual or multilingual contexts that the concept of mother tongue and the meaning the speakers attach to it gain specific importance. I base my analysis on the results of an encompassing sociolinguistic questionnaire which was applied in 2022 within the framework of the project Vulnerable Languages and Linguistic Varieties in Serbia (VLingS) project, focusing on the remarkably diverse answers to the open question “What does mother tongue mean to you?”
Snacken with Balkans Snacks

Southeast European Studies Online Platform: Interdisciplinary approaches to digital humanities
2023-11-23 10:15 - 12:00 | via Zoom
Benedikt Perak (University of Rijeka): “AI Assistants in Tourism: Enhancing Cultural Enrichment Experiences”
Abstract: In the rapidly evolving world of travel, AI assistants have emerged as transformative tools, not only for simplifying logistics but also for deepening cultural understanding. This talk delves into the innovative ways in which AI technology is bridging gaps between tourists and their destinations. We explore how AI assistants can provide context, historical insights, language translations, and personalized recommendations, allowing travelers to immerse themselves more deeply in the local culture and history. By leveraging these tools, tourists can transcend the traditional sightseeing model, fostering genuine connections and enriching their global perspective.

Björn Hansen & Michael Wastl (Regensburg): “Machine translation: Challenges for linguistics”
Abstract: The talk will address the question of how the recent advances in neural machine translation and the rise of ChatGPT affect linguistic work. In the first part, we will outline some general perspectives on how linguists can use these tools in the future. In the second part, we present an empirical study on translating a specific type of non-overt subjects used with infinitival phrases from German into Croatian. In this study, several types of control-shift constructions found in German and extracted from a corpus will be translated using Google Translate in order to investigate to what extent they are correctly realised in the target language (Croatian). We will show that they pose quite a challenge for machine translation in terms of dealing with these non-overt subjects. Thus, the study is in a dynamic and highly topical field, as it can contribute to the discussion about the possibilities but also the potential limitations of current AI-based translation systems.
https://uni-regensburg.zoom-x.de/j/62411825548?pwd=[REDACTED]
(Meeting-ID: 624 1182 5548, Kenncode: [REDACTED])

ENTFÄLLT: SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2023-12-07 16:00 - 18:00 | IOS, Landshuterstr. 4, R 017
PD Dr Lumnije Jusufi (HU Berlin) will give a talk on
“Technische Germanismen im Albanischen. Soziolinguistische Methoden zur Optimierung von Sprachkontaktforschung”
Time: 4-6 pm
Venue: IOS, R017
Abstract: Das Deutsche als lingua tecnica spielt seit langem eine wichtige Rolle zur Erneuerung des Fachwortschatzes im Bereich der (elektrischen) Technik für die Sprachen Ex-Jugoslawiens, so auch für das Albanische. Doch dieser Prozess dauert bis heute noch an. Mittels soziolinguistischer Methoden, etwa über die Untersuchung des Berufswandels und der Technik, kann man die Transferwege und -zeiten viel besser erforschen, als über den traditionellen Lautwandel, weil die Transferwege zu heterogen und manchmal sogar parallel laufen. Während vor den 1990-er Jahren die jugoslawische Zugehörigkeit als Kommunikationsraum dieses Transfers zu betrachten ist, dient nach dem Zerfall Jugoslawiens die Migration als Mittler dieses Sprachtransfers, der durch Materialebeschaffungswege, etwa über Online-Portale, enorm gefördert wird.
Snacken with Balkans Snacks

Southeast European Studies Online Platform: Interdisciplinary approaches to digital humanities
2023-12-14 10:15 - 12:00 | via Zoom
Jiři Kocian (Center for Digital Humanities Integration Malach Center for Visual History Charles University Prague): “Re-presentation and Digital presence of Holocaust Survivors’ Testimonies”
Abstract: In the current times, research in modern history and area studies is in an ever-increasing manner engulfed in both offline and online digital environments. This poses a challenge to the researchers, who are situated in the position of ‘users’ and thus experience a shift in research practices when working with digitized primary sources. This presentation will discuss selected issues emanating from the situation when we set on our research path along the venues pre-crafted by user interfaces, inherited ontologies and source presentations which cater to specific user experiences. As a case for demonstration, we will look at the current role of Holocaust survivors’ testimonies in the context of Digital Humanities, a highly symbiotic relationship lasting for more than 30 years.

Alexandru Dincovici (New Europe College Bucharest): “Are sensors dethroning senses? On trust, the body and awareness in the age of algorithmic trackers”
Abstract: This talk looks at the role activity trackers play for their users, focusing on the transformative role of wearable technology in shaping how we come to perceive our bodies and health. Drawing on autophenomenography, in depth interviews and online content analysis, it shows how, in practice, using activity trackers can lead to a shift in trust, from our own bodily senses to the algorithmic assemblages the technology is part of, making the sensors dethrone the central role our senses play in facilitating everyday life and activity choices. The central concept enabling this analysis is bodily awareness, originating in the philosophy of mind, as it can help bridge the gap between cognition, the body, material, and non-material agency, while allowing for a coherent and applied analysis of the changes brought about by wearable trackers.
https://uni-regensburg.zoom-x.de/j/62411825548?pwd=[REDACTED]
(Meeting-ID: 624 1182 5548, Kenncode: [REDACTED])

Southeast European Studies Online Platform: Interdisciplinary approaches to digital humanities
2024-01-18 10:15 - 12:00 | via Zoom
Sanja Durin (Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research, Zagreb): “From pasture to wilderness: How Velebit became the ultimate place of solitude and adventure”
Abstract: Although today represented as “wild”, the Velebit mountain was for centuries the habitat of people, a place of coexistence of herders and nature. Today, only old photos and piles of stacked stones that were once the homes, “stanovi” of herders and their families tell about it. As A. L. Tsing noted for forests, natural landscapes “are always historical – and the habits through which we learn to forget this blinds us to the dynamism of nature”. Velebit’s landscapes and narratives about them change because their visitors change, too. Recent (re)popularization of wilderness through outdoor lifestyle has created an imaginary of untouched, “virgin”, indestructible and attractive Velebit’s wilderness. Using a rephotograph of the Velebit landscapes, I question the changes in the relationship between man and the mountain and the environmental changes of the Velebit landscapes.

Agim Poshka (South East European University, Tetovo): “How to Teach Digital Literacy?”
Abstract: The focus will be on Information literacy and the ethical aspects of using digital resources. Also, the importance of understanding digital footprints and how to protect yourself online will be discussed. The risks of being a victim of fake news, cyberbullying and other aspects of handling securely digital communication for educational purposes.
https://uni-regensburg.zoom-x.de/j/62411825548?pwd=[REDACTED]
(Meeting-ID: 624 1182 5548, Kenncode: [REDACTED])

SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2024-01-18 16:00 - 18:00 | IOS, Landshuterstr. 4, R 017
Dr. Miroslav Pavlović (University Novi Sad) will give a talk on
“Between “Turkish Yoke” and Ottoman Reality: Ottoman Heritage in Contemporary Serbian Historiography”
Time: 4-6 pm
Venue: IOS, R017
Abstract: Early proclaimed dichotomy in Serbian historiography between the “national approach” and Ottoman studies was created in the 19th century and maintained until the early 21st century. This “Methodenstreit” or ideological issue, positioned Ottomanists between being practitioners of an auxiliary discipline of the modern historiography and experts of one of its most challenging research fields. The fear of the so-called defterology paradox, or the unresolved contradictions of the transitional period of Ottoman history were the sources of insecurities, that contributed to marginalization of Ottoman studies. The last two decades proved to be a turning point. In one moment, all three history departments in Serbia (at the Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš Universities) employed experts in the Ottoman studies. New approaches in the study of Ottoman history, predominantly of the transitional period (17th–18th centuries) started to open possibilities for the change of the position of Ottomanists in Serbian academia in the last two decades. The Ottoman studies offered “something that could not be neglected” regarding the progress of a society in transition and its changing perception of its own past.

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Albanian Studies in the Global Context
2024-01-30 15:00 - 19:00 | Online and Masaryk Room, SSEES UCL, Taviton Street, London, 16 Taviton Street, London, United Kingdom
In cooperation with SSEES PROLang, we cordially invites you to the discussion of Albanian studies in the global context. Several academics from around the world will discuss the challenges facing the teaching of Albanian as a foreign or heritage language, and more generally Albanian studies abroad.
The moderators of this event are Albanian language lecturers, Dr Mirela Xhaferraj (SSEES, UCL) and Lecturer Ledio Hala (Institute for Slavonic Studies, Seeffield Project, UR), together with Ramona Gonczol (SSEES, UCL), Associate Professor Romanian and convener of PROLang.
It takes place on 30 January, 3:00 pm–7:00 pm (London time). This event is hybrid and will be recorded.
Opening remarks: Associate Professor Ramona Gonczol (UCL SSEES), Convener of the PROLang Group.
Part 1– TEACHING ALBANIAN AS A FOREIGN/SECOND LANGUAGE
1. Mirela Xhaferraj (UCL SSEES): Teaching Albanian as a foreign/second language in the UK
2. Ledio Hala (Institute for Slavonic Studies, Seeffield Project, UR): Albanian Language Teaching and Studies in German Universities: Navigating Challenges, Celebrating Successes, and Sharing Best Practices
3. Linda Mëniku (University of Tirana, Albania / Arizona State University, CLI): Textbooks for teaching Albanian
4. Jin Qiao (Beijing Foreign Studies University): Policy Communication and Talent Cultivation in the Field of Higher Education between China and Albania
5. Flora Koleci (University of Salento, Italy): The teaching of Albanian as a second language in the Italian context
6. Lumnije Jusufi (Humboldt University of Berlin): Integration of vertical and horizontal varieties in the teaching of Albanian as a foreign language
7. Aljula Jubani (Institute for European Studies, University of Tirana, Albania): Optimizing Albanian language learning by applying the CEFR framework
8. Bardh Rugova (Universiteti i Prishtinës): Teaching Albanian as a Foreign and Heritage Language: Exploring Educational Approaches at the International Seminar on Albanian Language, Literature, and Culture
9. Maria Morozova (Russian Academy of Sciences) and Alexander Rusakov (Academy of Sciences of Albania): Teaching and learning Albanian studies in Saint Petersburg
Part 2- ALBANIAN STUDIES ABROAD
1. Eda Derhemi (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign): The faint presence of Albanian studies in the US
2. Enkeleida Kapia (Academy of Albanian Studies Tirana/ LMU Munich): Albanian studies in Munich: a multifaceted story of language variation and change in modern Albanian
3. Ardian Marashi (INALCO, France): Albanian in INALCO: history, organization, challenges
4. Orkida Backus Borshi (Charles University Prague), Albanian Studies at Charles University in Prague: New Perspectives
5. Emine Sadiku (Federal Language Agency Cologne), Teuta Toska (University of Elbasan): Positioning Albanian as a Second Language: Mapping the Evolution of an Emerging Academic Domain within the Linguistic Framework of Albania
6. Blerta Ismajli (University of Prishtina): Preserving heritage language through music: Albanian-German bilingual rap music
7. Michiel de Vaan (University of Basel): Albanian studies in Switzerland

BOOK LAUNCH | From Grand Estates to Grand Corruption: The Battle over the Possessions of Prince Albert of Thurn and Taxis in Interwar Yugoslavia
2024-01-31 19:00 - 21:00 | Evangelisches Bildungswerk, Am Ölberg 2, 93047 Regensburg, Bonhoeffer-Saal
Am 31. Januar 2024 stellt Klaus Buchenau (Regensburg) sein neues Buch “From Grand Estates to Grand Corruption: The Battle over the Possessions of Prince Albert of Thurn and Taxis in Interwar Yugoslavia” vor. Moderiert wird diese Veranstaltung von Luminata Gatejel (Regensburg). Der Vortrag findet in deutscher Sprache unter dem Titel “Wald, Gewalt und Geld. Der Kampf um Güter des Hauses Thurn und Taxis in Kroatien, 1919-1945” statt.

Abstract:
Als Jugoslawien 1918 gegründet wurde, besaßen adlige Grundbesitzer noch große Teile des Landes. Dies galt vor allem für die nordwestliche Hälfte des Staates, die früher zur Habsburgermonarchie gehört hatte. Mit rund 38.000 Hektar war Fürst Albert von Thurn und Taxis der größte private Waldbesitzer des neuen Königreichs. Jugoslawische Politiker forderten eine Enteignung, die als Herstellung sozialer und historischer Gerechtigkeit gerechtfertigt wurde. Gleichzeitig versuchten politische und wirtschaftliche Netzwerke, den Besitz in ihre eigenen Taschen zu lenken. Die beteiligten Seiten – Thurn und Taxis, jugoslawische Beamte, nationale und internationale Unternehmen – kämpften mit verschiedenen Mitteln für ihre Interessen, von Gerichtsverfahren über internationale Arbitrage bis hin zu politischem Lobbyismus. Dieses Buch destilliert aus diesen Methoden eine “Grammatik der Korruption” im Holzgeschäft der Zwischenkriegszeit. Für mehr Informationen siehe hier
Klaus Buchenau:
Er ist Professor für Geschichte Südost- und Osteuropas an der Universität Regensburg. Zu Beginn seiner akademischen Laufbahn widmete er sich zunächst der Soziolinguistik, dann der Religionsgeschichte. Unter dem Eindruck der Finanzkrise seit 2008 erweiterte er seine Forschungsinteressen auf Ressourcenverteilung, staatliches Misstrauen und die Geschichte der Korruption.
Kooperation:
Graduiertenschule für Ost- und Südosteuropastudien
Evangelisches Bildungswerk Regensburg

Southeast European Studies Student Symposium 2024
2024-04-04 - 2024-04-06 | Online
What is the SEES Student Symposium about?
The Southeast European Studies (SEES) Student Symposium essentially constitutes an opportunity for students interested in Southeast Europe to connect. It serves as a platform for exchange and feedback on current research projects (seminar papers, bachelor’s and master’s theses, etc.) and more. We embrace a broad thematic spectrum (yet always regarding Southeast Europe!) and are curious to know what interests you. Therefore, we welcome presentations on papers and reports (also work in progress!) and explicitly encourage you to bring along the questions and doubts that emerge throughout the research process. We will try to collectively find answers to them during presentations, and later in dialogue with the audience.
As a meeting place, the Symposium provides a space for exchange about Southeast Europe. Last year’s Symposium witnessed plenty of open and insightful debates, and we hope the 2024 edition awaits the same. Along with presentations, this year’s program includes keynotes, workshops, as well as cultural and creative activities. The Symposium’s main working languages are English and German, but if you would like to participate in another language, make sure to mention it in your application. However, please bear in mind that we cannot guarantee discussions and moderation in every language.
Who do we address?
We invite bachelor’s and master’s students, as well as master’s graduates who are currently in the application process for predoc and doctorate programs, to discuss their current work and research projects.
We welcome contributions from disciplines such as cultural studies, literary studies, linguistics, history, political sciences, economics, law, and more, as long as the topic is related to Southeast Europe. By Southeast Europe, we understand all the countries listed below (1).
You are interested in participating without presenting your own project? The registration for the symposium will open up on 1 March 2024.
Call for Presentations
If you are interested in presenting your work in 15 minutes, please email us an abstract of your project (max. 300 words) as well as a short bio (max. 100 words). The choice of research topic is free, but always concerning Southeast Europe. 20-minute discussions will follow presentations. Abstracts must be submitted in English.
Call for Activities
We would love to hear about your ideas for possible creative and cultural activities. Some ideas could be:

Film or book reviews from or about SEE
Presentation of musicians or bands from SEE
Moderating an open conversation about a specific topic for the participants of the Symposium (e.g. feminism, LGBTIQ+, environmental movements…)
An interview with an inspiring person (i.e. activists, researchers, journalists, young professionals…)

Please email us your proposal in English containing a brief description of what you envision and who you want to address (max. 300 words); excluding a short paragraph about yourself (max. 100 words) in one PDF. You may indicate if you want the activity to take place in another language.
Please send your application to symposium.see@gmail.com by 29 January 2024.

SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2024-04-24 16:00 - 18:00 | IOS, Landshuter Str. 4, R 017
Dr Constantin Ardeleanu (New Europe College – Institute for Advanced Study, Bucharest) will give a talk on
The Snake Island from Achilles to Zelenskyy
Time: 4-6 pm
Venue: IOS, R017
Abstract: A tiny islet in the north-western part of the Black Sea, about 45 kilometers east of the Danube Delta, the Snake Island has a fascinating history, which in fact illuminates larger aspects related to the history of the region.
The island was “rediscovered” in the early 19th century, when classical historians looking from Greek-Roman artifacts in the Ukrainian provinces of imperial Russia identified the island as the ancient Leuke, home of a famous Greek temple to Achilles. The temple made way to a lighthouse, which guided ships carrying grain from both Southern Ukraine and the Danube Delta. In 1856, at the end of the Crimean War, the island was “returned”, with British support, to the Ottoman Empire, and in 1878 the island and the neighboring Delta became Romanian territory. It was annexed in 1948 by the Soviet Union; since 1991, the island has remained part of independent Ukraine. In the 2000s, delimitation of the maritime boundary close to the Snake Island was the object of a Romanian-Ukrainian trial in front of the International Court of Justice. Not least of all, with Russia’s full-fledged war against Ukraine, the Snake Island has assumed new relevance in Ukraine’s defense and in president Zelenskyy’s addresses to the Ukrainian nation.
My talk aims to briefly present what makes the history of this place so interesting and worthwhile being studied by those interested in Black Sea history.

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SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2024-05-16 16:00 - 18:00 | IOS, Landshuter Str. 4, R 017
Dragoș Sdrobiș, PhD (seeFField visiting fellow) will give a talk on
ENGINEERING A CAREER. A Brief Insight into the Curriculum of Polytechnic Studies in Romania, 1881-1939
Time: 4-6 pm
Venue: IOS, R017
Abstract:
The objective of the presentation is to delineate the progression of polytechnic studies in Romania from 1881 to 1939. In an agrarian society, characterized by high levels of illiteracy, and where legal or humanistic studies dominated higher education, pursuing engineering studies was a peripheral career option for young individuals. Through a discourse analysis of key publications from polytechnics and professional associations of that era, and by delving into the memoirs of certain engineers, I aim to address the following inquiries:

Who comprised the student body enrolled in polytechnic schools?
Were there any motivating factors that influenced the attractiveness of choosing polytechnic studies in comparison to university studies?
Did the state implement any strategies to encourage young individuals to opt for polytechnic studies?
What was the admission process for aspiring engineers?
To what extent did the curriculum of polytechnics align with the technological advancements and professional challenges of that period?

Photo: The visit of King Carol I to the National School of Bridges and Roads in 1904
Source: Aniversarea a 75 de ani de învățământ tehnic în România…, București, Cartea Românească Publishing House, 1931, p. 200.

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Albanian Studies Symposium: Exploring the Future of Research and Scholarship
2024-06-07 08:30 - 18:00 | University Regensburg, VG 1.30, Universität Regensburg, VG 1.30, Germany

SNAKLAB Regensburg Southeastern Europe Research Seminars
2024-06-12 16:00 - 18:00 | University Regensburg, SG. 214, Sammelgebäude
Rozafa Berisha, PhD (seeFField visiting fellow) will give a talk on…
“Crafting Futures in the Aftermath of Hope: Gender, State, and Affect in Kosovo”
Time: 4-6 pm
Venue: SG 214, Universität Regensburg
Abstract: This lecture discusses the relations between promises of statehood and gendered futures in Kosovo, a state-building context with an unfolding Europeanising agenda. For young women, historically marginal within gender and ethno-national hierarchies, Kosovo’s independence in 2008 promised a new era of state-oriented hopefulness. It did so by promoting a new model of national womanhood ingrained with the principles of liberty, empowerment, and meritocracy; the core tenets of a projected “European future”. However, the fieldwork Rozafa Berisha conducted a decade after independence, revealed that many of these promises remained unmet. In this lecture, she traces ethnographically how young women from low-income backgrounds navigate the disconnect between their novel hopes of post-independence and their lived realities through individualized future-making strategies. Centering around an ethnographic and gendered account of the state, the talk reflects on what it means to form an affective attachment to a political project that struggles to materialize.

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Journalist Talks: Media as a tool of international intervention
2024-10-15 18:30 - 20:00 | VHS, Thon-Dittmer-Palais, Haidplatz 8, R 219
The talk will focus on post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina, the country that remains one of the biggest experiments in international intervention in modern history. Media assistance, as well as international intervention, was an enormous project that involved many donors and recipient organisations and large amounts of money. However, it is just one of many countries where democratisation and state-building took place with little to no input from the local community. The talk will give an overview of the intervention, its main actors, goals, and approaches.
Nidžara Ahmetašević is an award-winning journalist and independent scholar from Bosnia and Herzegovina. For over twenty years, she has written about human rights, media, and migration. Her work has been featured in various media outlets, such as The Balkans, The New Yorker, The Rolling Stone, Guardian, Al Jazeera English, etc. She is the author of the book The Media as a Tool of International: House of Cards (Routledge, 2024).
Journalist Talks Series is a part of the seeFField project of the University Regensburg in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Regensburg.

Journalist Talks: Wie Russlands Propaganda den Balkan destabilisiert
2024-11-05 18:30 - 20:00 | VHS, Thon-Dittmer-Palais, Haidplatz 8, R 219
Seit zehn Jahren besitzen russische Staatsmedien wie Sputnik und RT in Serbiens Hauptstadt Belgrad eigene Redaktionen, die vielfältige Angebote produzieren. Mit dem Segen der politischen Klasse haben sie es hier wie in den Nachbarländern geschafft, auch die irrealsten und unlogischsten Narrative salonfähig zu machen. Gleichzeitig ist die Region für die Kreml-Medien Trainingsfeld, um Propagandatechniken zu testen, die dann im großen Stil im Westen eingesetzt werden. Gezeigt wird an konkreten Beispielen, wie diese Propaganda funktioniert und welche Wirkung sie erzielt.
Dr. Thomas Brey war fast vier Jahrzehnte für die Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa als deren Südosteuropaexperte mit Sitz in Belgrad und Leiter aller dpa-Büros in der Region tätig. Seit 15 Jahren übernimmt er Lehraufträge an deutschen Unis zu südosteuropäischen Themen und bietet Workshops für Nachwuchsjournalisten aus Kroatien und Serbien auf der Grundlage eigener Lehrbücher an.
Journalist Talks im Rahmen des Projektes seeFField der Universität Regensburg in Zusammenarbeit mit der Volkshochschule Regensburg.
