Strasbourg Global Program

Strasbourg Summer Program
View 2004 picture album from MAIR student Monique Mortara

Photograph of the 2004 cohort including MAIR students
Jeremy Norwood, Rebecca Semmes, Adam Bucky, Tomas Mandl, and Monique Mortara.

SU Abroad offers a summer program in Strasbourg, France, and the International Relations Program of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs has added this program to its list of new initiatives.

Strasbourg, a 'crossroads' city, and home to the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights, is an ideal place for students interested in international human rights, refugees and related issues in international law. Indeed, for several years, students in our undergraduate international relations program have pursued courses of study and internships at the Syracuse University site in Strasbourg.

The Strasbourg Summer Program in European Human Rights and Conflict Resolution offers students a 6 credit opportunity to combine studies in conflict resolution with the particular lens of human rights issues. This program focuses on human rights issues that have implications for people all over the world. It also examines the complexity of conflict and the role of international organizations in resolving civil wars and military conflicts. Students will learn firsthand about European perspectives on human rights and conflict resolution through an exposure to activities at the Council of Europe.

European Human Rights (PSC 600, 3 credits)

Issues of human rights are at the heart of debates in the countries of Europe as these societies undergo rapid transformation and consider the form of the “new Europe”. This course will delve into these issues, which reveal much about the culture, morals and values of the residents of Europe. It will begin with a general introduction to European human rights standards and present some of the Council of Europe mechanisms engaged in their application. The course will then focus on specific rights, such as the prohibition of torture, the death penalty, freedom of expression and the right to family and private life. Next the course will turn to the question of minority protection examining issues of equality, non-discrimination and “minority rights”. Students will have an opportunity to study and observe the European Court of Human Rights in action and participate in a “moot court” activity.

Throughout the course, the particular difficulties faced by various minority groups in Europe will be explored. Graduate students will select a case study of a minority situation of interest to them, and bring it into discussions as different human rights issues are explored. Examples of case studies could be Roma in the Czech Republic, the Tatars in Ukraine, language rights in Moldova, “Islamophobia” in the UK, North Africans in France, Albanians in Macedonia, return of Serbs in Croatia, etc.

The course will draw upon a wide range of materials. It will not only make use of written academic publications, but also of newspaper articles, internet resources and video. There will be a number of guest speakers throughout the course.

Grades will be based on: a mid-term assignment or exam (students may choose to participate in a “moot court trial” instead); class participation; and a term research project based on a case study analysis.

Conflict Resolution (PSC 600.2, 3 credits)
This course will cover a range of topics intending to introduce students to the complexity of conflict, its origin and role in human society from earliest times to today, and as a backdrop to modern conflict resolution, its theory and practice.

The course will examine the similarities and differences between various kinds of conflict – personal, domestic, community, racial, religious, violent and non violent, physical and psychological. It will examine in detail examples of the different types of actual conflicts in order to understand if such conflicts were an inevitable outcome of certain actions or merely the result of deliberate choices. The role of the modern media in conflict will also be examined. Informed about the reasons behind the origin of conflict students will go on to examine different forms of conflict resolution and attempt to apply such resolutions to current conflicts. Examples will be drawn from conflicts in Europe and the Middle East as well as students’ personal experiences.

After looking into the nature of different conflicts, collision of rights and interests, as well as the role of conflict in the evolution of societies and states, the course will look at the present role and potential of international organizations in resolving civil wars and military conflicts. This will be exemplified by a series of actions taken by the Council of Europe: (1) Bosnia: post conflict stabilization; (2) Kosovo: conflict mediation; (3) Chechnya: intervention and monitoring.

French Tutorials
Jean-Maurice Marxer, Assistant Director and Coordinator of the language program at the Strasbourg Center, will offer French tutorials to interested students. Students will not be charged a fee for these non-credit French tutorials. Professor Marxer will meet with students for approximately one hour every other day. The tutorials will cover three levels: "Survival French" for French I (beginning) students, "Reinforcement of Listening and Speaking Skills" for French II (intermediate) students, and "Reading and Discussion" for French II (advanced) students. There will also be weekly excursions to museums, outdoor markets, and monuments in the city for all groups.

Faculty
The European Human Rights course:

Lanna Hollo currently works with the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the Minorities section of the Council of Europe. She also works as an independent consultant in the field of racism, minority protection, and human rights. She holds an LL.B from the Faculty of Law at McGill University, Montreal, and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Toronto. She will teach the human rights course.

The Conflict Resolution course:

Jorgen Johansen has worked for nearly thirty years as an international consultant and trainer in conflict prevention and resolution. He has also held academic appointments at several major European universities.

SU Abroad may provide housing; upon acceptance to the program, they will send admitted students request forms. See the SU Abroad website for details.

The cost of the Strasbourg Program includes six credits of graduate tuition ($6,414 for AY 2008-2009) and the Program Fee ($2,550--estimate, and subject to change). Participants arrange and pay for their own transportation to and from Strasbourg.

Here is a preliminary estimate of costs. Please note that costs are subject to change and the tuition rate will increase for the summer of 2009:

*Please note that joint JD/IR students must pay law school tuition for any credits that they take through the IR program. This includes credits taken on global programs such as the Strasbourg Summer Program.

Who Should Apply

The Strasbourg Summer Program in Human Rights and Conflict Resolution is sponsored by SU Abroad in cooperation with the Maxwell School's International Relations Program. While it does not currently offer internships, students who wish to enter the job market with advanced French language skills are encouraged to apply.

The following students from the IR Program competed successfully for admission to the 2008 program:

Austin Cusak
Marie Llewellyn
Jonathan Marshall - Jonathan secured a competitive internship position at the Council of Europe!
Maggie Rajala

The following student from the IR Program competed successfully for admission to the 2005 program:

Marc Valadao

The following students from the IR Program competed successfully for admission to the 2004 program:

Adam Bucky
Tomas Mandl
Monique Mortara
Jeremy Norwood
Rebecca Semmes

Application for the 2009 Strasbourg Summer Program

Students are strongly urged to apply by October 15th.
Please complete the online application form, print out the completed form, sign it, and return it along with your $60 application fee to SU Abroad. For more information, please Nell Bartkowiak, Assistant Director, at SU Abroad. Thanks!

SU Abroad

At Syracuse University (SU), study abroad is a tradition dating back to 1919. More than half the students enrolled through SU Abroad come from universities across the U.S. and from almost all major fields of study.

SU maintains academic centers in England, France, Hong Kong, Italy, and Spain. Each center has close ties to local universities, allowing students to design integrated programs of study appropriate to their academic and language abilities. Every center has a small research library of its own, and students may also make use of local libraries. Additionally, all students have access to the Syracuse University Library's extensive on-line database resources. Each center is overseen by a faculty director, administrators and host-country staff who are available to assist students at all times with their academic and personal needs. Predeparture and on-site orientation programs further prepare students for their semester or year abroad.