International PhD Academy
April 19-23, 2021 | Postponed until March 28 – April 1, 2022
The concept of ‘people’ has been a feeding ground for social sciences, public debates, and political processes since the 19th century and today has again emerged as the core of the discourse of recent populist movements. The notion of people is the foundation of nationalisms, the formation of states, the processes of democratization, post-conflict settings, and self-determination claims of post-colonial and separatist movements. It is also at the basis of the ‘Europe of people’, an idea thrown into crisis by both the Occupy movements and the rightist populisms that, once again, contrapose ‘the people’ and ‘the elites’.
The notion of people has been used also to separate the ‘us’ from the ‘others’ leading to fierce forms of discrimination, racial segregation, and international crimes. However, the outlines of its definition are not distinct but rather blurred and involve a broad semantic range which overlaps and intersects with the notions of state, country, nationalism, culture, ethnicity, group, language, minority, and identity. In the quest for justice after conflicts, peoples’ tribunals have been created to fill the gaps of transnational justice and to give voice to invisible and abused victims/survivors (including through peoples’ tribunals and courts). So, what is a people?
This International PhD Academy discusses this question by offering a series of lectures that address this tricky and ambiguous concept, both in its (mis)uses in the political arena, and as a scientific label adopted to comprehend the riddle of collective identities.
A learning-by-doing approach will be privileged: it will provide participants with an interactive learning experience utilizing frontal lectures, class discussions, team exercises, presentations, and simulations.
This PhD Academy will be led by:
- Italian National Research Council (CNR)
- Tel Aviv University, Israel
- Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
Faculty
Daniele Archibugi, Italian National Research Council (Scientific Coordinator)
Uriel Abulof, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Sara De Vido, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
Sophie Duchesne, University of Bordeaux / CNRS, France
Mary Kaldor, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
Fabio Dei, University of Pisa
Lorenzo D’Orsi, University of Catania
Topics
Interdisciplinary in its nature, this international PhD Academy will offer a theoretical review of the concept of ‘people’, moving from its first theorizations to its current implications. This notion will be scrutinized in the background of different fields of social sciences and in relation to the concepts of state, nationalism, ethnicity, populism, cosmopolitanism, democracy, collective memory, global civil society, and elite.
Who can apply?
This International PhD Academy is offered to PhD students, post-docs and young researchers in Political Science, International Relations, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Philosophy, History, Peace and Conflict Studies, and International Human Rights Law.
The PhD Academy is primarily for candidates from VIU's member institutions, although applications from excellent external candidates will be considered and evaluated. External candidates admitted to the PhD Academy will pay fees (further information available in the Brochure). VIU Alumni are eligible for a reduced fee.
Students from the VIU member institutions will pay no participation fees. Grant support is also available, partially or fully, the cost for international travel; accommodation on campus, in shared rooms, will be offered.
Applicants must submit the (1) application form, (2) a letter of motivation – which should include a short bio and a brief description of the candidate’s research project, (3) a curriculum vitae and (4) a photo via the VIU website (a new box available here from December 5).
For further information, please download the Brochure and the Program (available soon) or write to: phdacademy@univiu.org
As the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, VIU will continue to monitor the situation. Should the COVID-19 situation prevent international travel or the confirmation of the program on campus as scheduled, the activity will be moved online. Applicants and confirmed participants will be informed of any changes.
