IPA Summer School in International Political Anthropology 2010

IPASS2010

Theme: Ek-stasis (out of ordinary) in Politics: Studying revolutions, wars, and other liminal moments

Location: Florence, Italy

Dates: 26 June to 3 July 2010

After the successful first summer school of 2009, devoted to the theme 'Masks of the Contemporary', this year's summer school of International Political Anthropology a peer-reviewed pluri-disciplinary international journal (www.ipa3.org) - will focus on the out of ordinary in politics.

The teaching staff will consist of an international team of scholars associated with International Political Anthropology; academics specialized in comparative studies in politics, sociology, or anthropology, including some leading figures in their fields.

Successful participation in the School will be fully accredited (5-10 ECTS or equivalent), and IPA will award a prize for the best paper presented.

Participants:

The International Political Anthropology Summer School, a newly established education forum, provides an intensive interdisciplinary course in theories, concepts, and ideas designed for the needs of students and researchers interested in developing theoretical and interpretative paradigms and approaches. Applicants should already be enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme or be seriously thinking of doing graduate or postgraduate studies in the social sciences and humanities (such as Anthropology, Politics, Sociology, Philosophy, History, Archaeology, or Classics).

Description & Objectives:

The International Political Anthropology Summer School aims to enable interdisciplinary and comparative scholarship in addressing problems and concerns of the contemporary social & political scene through the prism of anthropologically based approaches. Building on classical and contemporary thought in anthropology, politics, & sociology, the International Political Anthropology Summer School is strongly interdisciplinary. Drawing from theories, methods, and perspectives across a wide spectrum of the social sciences, philosophy, arts and humanities, we use ‘anthropology’ in the open sense of a discourse interested in addressing forms and types that are fundamental or highly generalizable across the diversity of civilizations and collective forms of life: language, communication, and representations; interpretation and the construction of meanings; realms and rituals of the sacred, the profane, and the everyday; reciprocity , exchange and commerce; ideals, beliefs and sentiments; norms, order and violations; home, dwelling and domesticity; art, music and dramatic performances; sexuality, reproduction and family life; power, leadership, and legitimation; recreation, play and creativity.

Journal:

The teaching staff of the IPA Summer School are associated with the academic journal of the International Political Anthropology (www.IPA3.org) a major new scholarly journal that provides a forum for interdisciplinary and comparative scholarship addressing problems of contemporary politics through anthropologically based approaches. Papers developed by participants at the IPA Summer School will be considered for publication in the journal.

Venues:

The School will be held in the historic city of Florence, center of the Renaissance. The School will commence in the Florence (www.firenzeturismo.it) with introductions and orientations, as well as an opportunity to visit and enjoy the citys famous attractions. The Summer School activities, including all lectures & seminars, will be held in the University of Florence.

The lecture theatres are fully equipped, including facilities for recording. There is also a library with quiet study space adjacent to the university, as well as several cafes, bars, and small restaurants nearby.

Teaching Staff:

The IPA Summer School will be taught by staff from several universities. Amongst the teaching team are:

• Dr. Agnes Horvath, Catholic University, Milan (www.unicatt.it)
• Dr. Bjorn Thomassen, The American University of Rome (www.aur.edu)
• Dr. Harald Wydra, St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge University, UK (www.cam.ac.uk)
• Dr. Kieran Keohane, National University of Ireland, UCC (www.ucc.ie)
• Prof. Arapad Szakolczai, National University of Ireland, UCC (www.ucc.ie)
• Dr. Carmen Kuhling, University of Limerick, Ireland (www.ul.ie)
• Prof. Richard Sakwa, University of Kent, Canterbury (www.kent.ac.uk)
• Prof. Michael Urbam, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA (www.ucsc.edu)

Programme Outline:

First Day:

Landscapes of Theory: The Political Anthropology of Ek-stasis

Second Day:

Liminaliy, experience, crisis

Third Day:

Wars and revolutions: modernity as a difference

Fourth Day:

Schismogenisis and the Trickster

Fifth Day:

Doing Political Anthropology

The Package Includes:

• Seven nights B&B accommodation at the Hotel Medici in Florence from Saturday 26^th June to Saturday 3^rd July.
• Reception & orientation at Palazzo Guidi on June 27^th.
• School dinner (including table wine) in restaurant for five days
• Light lunch and coffee on the school site for five days
• School excursion including wine tasting
• All lectures, seminars, readings and course materials
• End of School Dinner on Friday July 2^nd

To optimize the student’s learning experience the School will be limited to 30 participants. Classes will be conducted in English.

ECTS: 5 or 10 (see below)

Fees: 750€

IPA Summer School Programme:

Students will receive a bibliography of background recommended readings and a detailed schedule two weeks prior to the IPA Summer School.

On arrival in Florence on Saturday June 26^th, students will go to their accommodations at the Hotel Medici.

On Saturday June 27^th, there will be an ‘Introduction and Orientation’ reception for students and staff at the Palazzo Guidi in the center of Florence at 11.00 am. Reading materials and orientating assignments will be distributed in preparation for classes on Monday, as well as self-guided walking tours of Florence. Professors Horvath and Szakolczai have lived in Florence many years, and as the Renaissance is amongst Prof. Szakolczai’s fields of specialization, they are ideal guide to the city.

On Monday June 28^th, students will start the classes at 9am.

On Friday afternoon July 2^nd there will be a farewell reception at 5pm, in the Gardens of the Museum of Natural History, followed by a Summer School Celebration Dinner at Bene Vobis, Via de’ Serragli, 78r, at 8p,.

Saturday July 3^rd, students depart.

Credits: ECTS (and American)

The IPA Summer School is structured in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) wherein 1 ECTS = 20-25 hours work.

5 ECTS corresponds with 3 American credits.

The schools activities may be calculated as follows:

Classroom contact hours: 4 x 6hrs; 24

Master classes: 2 x 1.5hrs;3

Symposium: 1 x 3hrs; 3

Total classroom contact hours: 30

Directed reading:

Advance preparatory work from assigned bibliography, and directed reading during summer school: 70 hours

Total: 100 hours = 5 ECTS (or 3 American credits)

Students who attend the full Summer School, including all classes, and do all preparatory readings and assignments, participate in classroom discussion and symposium may earn 5 ECTS (or 3 American credits0.

In addition, students who complete and submit a major essay 95.000-8,000 words) on a topic agreed with by the Summer School team, within one month i.e. by Friday August 7^th 2010, representing an additional 100 hours of independent self-directed work, may earn a further 5 ECTS (or 3 American credits).

NB: Students must clarify with the offices of the University where they registered for their doctoral studies—i.e. their own Department/Programme/Registrar/Examinations offices—that the work done at the IPA Summer School will be accepted as ECTS towards their degree.