Divided States of Europe: Globalization and Inequalities in the New Europe
Spring Semester
Since 2004, ten former communist nation-states have joined the European Union (EU). The Eastern bloc enlargements presented member states with a new set of challenges, but also opportunities. From three different locations – Norway, Romania, and Hungary – students examine the complex dynamics of European integration by focusing on issues such as labor migration, minority politics, right-wing populism, prostitution, and human trafficking.
Scandinavia forms the core of the program and serves as students’ initial point of reference, with its long history of democracy, its relatively even distribution of wealth, and its unique range of experiences with the European integration project. Hungary (Budapest) and Romania (Transylvania) are the hands-on comparative case studies, of deep interest for their tumultuous history, recent accession to EU membership, and rampant right-wing populism. Budapest is one of Eastern Europe’s most culturally vibrant cities, with an extremely well developed NGO sector, but also increasing social unrest as allegations of corruption are brought against political elites in the wake of the global recession. A major supplier of migrant labor to Western Europe, Romania offers a unique entry point into the investigation of minority rights, with the region’s largest population of Roma and a significant Hungarian minority in Transylvania. Together, Hungary and Romania encompass some of Europe’s most pressing social justice issues and constitute its primary geographic and cultural bridge between East and West.
The framing questions that guide analysis and exploration throughout the program are:
- What are the dominant ideologies underpinning the European project and how are they influencing the EU’s domestic and global agenda?
- How are these ideologies challenged from “below”?
- What is the relationship between globalization and European integration?
- What are the gaps, fractures, and continuities in the European project and how do they play out in the “Old” and the “New” Europe?
Hands-On Experience
Seminars include a variety of experiential projects outside the classroom where students interact with diverse groups including politicians, community activists, university faculty, and local citizens. In addition to seminars and field excursions, students spend four to six hours one day a week over a selected period at a volunteer placement working with a variety of government and community organizations. For examples of the types of placements available in Oslo, see the link below.
Example Volunteer Placements
Courses and credits
- Disjuncture and Difference in Europe: Challenges and Opportunities of European Integration, 2 course credits / 8 credit hours
- Internship and Integration Seminar, 1 course credit / 4 credit hours
- Independent Study Project, 1 course credit / 4 credit hours
Total: 4 course credits / 16 credit hours
The program is taken as an integrated whole and provides the equivalent of a semester’s worth of credit; i.e., 4 course credits, 16 semester hours, or 27 trimester credits. In addition to class work and field seminars, students will undertake an independent-study project.
Faculty
Margareta Dancus, Ph.D. (University of Washington-Seattle)
Of special note
All seminars are taught in English. The independent-study project allows you to explore in-depth a topic of your choosing related to course themes and takes advantage of being “on site” in Scandinavia and/or Eastern Europe. The seminars are open to students with any major, and may be of special interest to students in political science, economics, international relations and international studies, sociology, European studies, gender studies and immigration studies, as well as students in interdisciplinary majors, the humanities, and students interested in globalization.
Housing in Oslo is located in a student village near the campus, which is a shared living space with Norwegian and other foreign students. Students receive a monthly stipend and buy and cook their own food. In Eastern Europe housing will be in youth hostels or similar accommodation. Brief home stays in Norway may also be possible during the term.
Opportunities for personal travel include visits to other parts of Scandinavia and Europe during breaks and after completing the program.
If you would like to know more about the program fee, dates or other specific application information please visit the General Program Information page.
Scholarships
Among the various scholarship resources for HECUA students planning to participate in the SUST and DSE program are the following. Please check with your off-campus study office for more opportunites.
The Lakselaget Foundation; scholarship amount is $1,000.
The Sons of Norway Foundation has a King Olav V Norwegian-American Heritage Fund; scholarship amount ranges from $1,000 - $1,500.
Scholarship eligibility and deadline information can be found by clicking on the links above. Please contact the foundations directly with questions.
| Program Documentation |
| Sample Syllabus |
If you have interest in other semester-long international programs that we offer,
use the following short-cuts:
| Ecuador | Northern Ireland | Scandinavia |
