How to be a Citizen? - UNESCO MOST Winter School by iASK - iASK

How to be a Citizen? – UNESCO MOST Winter School by iASK

Organized by the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg (iASK) and the Institute for Social and European Studies (ISES), in cooperation with the University of Pannonia, and the UNESCO Chair of KőszegThe notion of citizenship is undergoing profound change as the tensions between global, regional, and national forms of belonging and integration are becoming increasingly contested. The assumed relationship between citizens and nation-states is challenged by the evolving trends of economic, political, and social globalization. At the same time, growing economic disparities and injustice, climate change and pandemics have not only resulted in the rise of a precariat and denizens within the core of the world-system but have likewise led to an increase in migration flows towards Europe by the marginalized populations of global peripheries. While these trends, entwined and interdependent, emerge as the most obvious symptoms of global distress, the questioning of contemporary (dis)order is articulated from various sides of the political spectrum.

Along these lines of socio-political transformations, two contradictory political tendencies emerge. On the one side, calls for global citizenship, underwritten by proponents of globalization, have attempted to radically transform the notion of (national) citizenship. On the other side, a number of political movements display a strong opposition to these increasing integrationist forces. As a consequence of the two oppositional political projects, societies around the world are becoming increasingly divided and polarized, making consensus over the future difficult to reach. In this context, divisions forged around the notion of citizenship have become a fertile ground for systemic disruptions, and are evidenced in the rise of populism of both left and right, emerging radicalism, lack of institutional and social trust, normalization of political disillusionment, and general voter apathy.

It is our belief that these conflicting tendencies, despite speaking distinct political languages, remain united in a sense that both offer solutions to the unresolved issues of advanced capitalism. Thus, at the same time as the emergence of the first-ever truly global pandemic heightens the unresolved symptoms of unregulated globalization, the issues of differential inclusion and democratic participation on both local and trans-local levels of governance remain more pressing than ever before.

Convinced how these issues offer a solid ground for a new type of dialogue, the 3^rd UNESCO MOST Winter School invites all interested parties to join us in Kőszeg to address the following questions:

How to conceptualize citizenship in the contemporary world?
What does it mean to be a citizen today? What are the implications of the contemporary global order for the notion of citizenship?
How to reimagine a model of participatory citizenship in what have become increasingly alienated political systems of governance?
How can we counter the decline in trust in political institutions? How to ensure higher levels of responsibility among both national and supranational bodies and institutions? How to advance their more proactive involvement in the resolution of social and political issues?
How to reconcile the national and supranational modes of belonging? How to construct new forms of political solidarities within increasingly divided societies?
What is the impact of the climate change on the emerging political sphere? How to think issues of citizenship in the times of pandemic? How to build more resilient societies?
What is the role of the media and fake-news in the construction of contemporary citizenship?
What role can civil society play within emerging political spheres? How can it advance more participatory forms of democratic citizenship?

Having in mind the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of the questions at the center of this winter school, as well as our own continuing commitment to an ever more inclusive academia, we welcome contributions from a variety of intellectual traditions. Likewise, due to the global importance of this topic, the winter school encourages applications from all parts of the world.

Eligibility: Advanced MA and PhD students and young researchers, young professionals, policymakers, and social entrepreneurs, who have a keen academic or professional interest in the topics.

Application deadline:

– February 01, 2021

Applicants should send the following documents to [email protected]

completed IWS Application Form
CV
motivation letter

Online platform: Zoom after a personal invitation

Certificates will be awarded for those who have completed the whole program.

All events of the UNESCO IWS 2021 will be held in Central European Time (CET)

Monday 22^nd February

09:00-9:30 Online registration – Zoom

9:30-10:00 Introduction session – Zoom

10:00-10:30 Keynote: John Keane: Citizenship and the New Despotism – Facebook and Zoom

10:30- 12:00 Comments and discussion – Zoom

12:00-15:00 Lunch break

15:00 – 15:15 Ferenc Miszlivetz welcome speech – Facebook and Zoom

15:15 – 15:30 Miklós Réthelyi welcome speech – Facebook and Zoom

15:30 – 16:00 Keynote: Sean Cleary: The Challenge and Responsibility of Citizenship in 2021 – Facebook and Zoom

16:00 – 16:30 Discussion – Zoom

16:30 – 16:50 Cultural introduction – Citizenship and the Role of Culture by Zoltán Mizsei – Zoom

Tuesday 23^rd February

Moderator of the day: Jody Jensen

09:00-9:30 Online registration – Zoom

9:30-10:00 Introduction session – Zoom

10:00- 10:30 Keynote: László Z. Karvalics: From Citizen Science to Citizen Empowerment – Facebook and Zoom

10:30-12:00 Discussion – Zoom

12:00-14:00 Lunch break

14:00- 15:00 Democracy at a Cross Road: Populist Turns and Illiberal Responses. Perspectives from Central and Southeastern Europe – Facebook and Zoom

Divisions forged around the notion of citizenship have become fertile ground for systemic disruptions and are evidenced in the rise of both left- and right-wing populism, emerging radicalism, lack of institutional and social trust, normalization of political disillusionment, and general disengagement from political processes on the part of citizens. How can we reimagine a model of participatory citizenship in what have become increasingly alienated political systems of governance? How do we construct new forms of political solidarity in increasingly divided societies?

Moderator: Ferenc Miszlivetz

Jody Jensen, Lovro Kralj, Dimitar Nikolovski, Igor Stipic, Leida Ruvina,

Comments: Z. Karvalics László

15:00-16:00 Discussion – Zoom

Wednesday 24^th February

Moderator of the day: Anikó Magasházi

09:00-9:30 Online registration – Zoom

9:30-10:00 Introduction session – Zoom

10:00-10:30 Keynote: György Schöpflin: The Ambiguities of Citizenship and Nationhood – Facebook and Zoom

10:30- 11:30 Migration, Belonging, Multicultural Societies – Facebook and Zoom

Due to the pandemic, the condition for refugees and migrants in camps has worsened. Their already perilous existence has become even more precarious. Although the number of asylum seekers is down, for many countries the migration “crisis” will never be over. That is because the problem has never really been about numbers, but rather about European solidarity. How do we reconcile national and supranational modes of belonging? How do we construct new forms of political solidarity in increasingly divided societies?

Moderator: János Bogárdi

Dion van den Berg, György Csepeli, György Schöpflin

11:30-12:00 Discussion – Zoom

12:00-14:00 Lunch break

14:00- 15:00 International Organizations as Mediators between Local, European and Global Citizenship – Facebook and Zoom

In the context of socio-political transformations, contradictory political tendencies emerge. On the one hand, calls for global citizenship, underwritten by proponents of globalization, have attempted to radically transform the notion of (national) citizenship. On the other hand, a number of political movements display strong opposition to these progressive integrationist forces. What role can international organizations play to mitigate the increasing imbalances? What lessons can be learned from their recent failures?

Moderator: János Bogárdi

Graham Bell, H. E. Katalin Bogyay, Tibor Navracsics

15:00-16:00 Discussion – Zoom

Cultural broadcast: Binder Trio: Bartók for Children II. (part 1) – Facebook

Thursday 25^th February

Moderator of the day: Izabella Agárdi

9:30-10:00 Online registration

10:00-11:00 Citizen Engagement in the Era of Fake News, with Particular Attention Paid to the US Elections – Facebook and Zoom

Political parties and politicians have shown they can influence, impact and win elections through the strategic use of social media – this includes the spread of fake news or “alternative facts”. Social media could be employed as a democratizing force, but corporate, neoliberal and extremist forces have utilized it to control false narratives and misinform the public. What can we do to counterpose fake news? How can we increase effective civic engagement in the era of fake news and social media?

Moderator: Ferenc Miszlivetz

Todd Pittinsky (Stony Brook University): False Narratives on the Social Media Challenges & Possibilities

Panelists: Ilan Chabay, György Csepeli, Ahmet Evin, James M. Skelly

11:00-12:00 Discussion – Zoom

12:00-14:00 Lunch break

14:00-15:00 Climate Change and Citizenship in the times of Global Pandemic – Facebook and Zoom

Taking the contemporary Covid-19 pandemic as only one example of larger problems human society will face as a result of the ongoing processes of climate change, the panel asks how these developments may affect the notion of democracy and citizenship in the future. Using the Covid-19 as a case in point, which has only accentuated prevailing tendencies of our times, the panel questions the impact that climate change may have on the emerging political sphere and modes of citizenship. Likewise, the panel addresses distinct ways in which the pandemic was tackled on local, regional, and global levels of governance, in order to draw lessons that can further the creation of more resilient societies today and in the future.

Moderator: Sándor Kerekes

János Bogárdi, Daniel Brooks, Orsolya Bajer-Molnár, Ortwin Renn

15:00-16:00 Discussion – Zoom

Cultural broadcast: Binder Trio: Bartók for Children II. (part 2) – Facebook

Friday 26^th February

Moderator of the day: Katalin Bognárné Lovász

9:30-10:00 Online registration

10:00-11:00 Morning Session: Future of Education and Politics of Democracy – Facebook and Zoom

The panel posits the educational problématique within the wider topic of global political turmoil and democratic change. In this sense, the panel addresses the question of the relationship between educational policy and the politics of democracy in the contemporary world. Thus, we interrogate not only the position that educational institutions have predominantly occupied within the dominant structure of the world-order, but also investigate what is the role that these knowledge-producing institutions should be expected to take in the future if more just and resilient societies are to be created.

Moderator: James M. Skelly

John Crowley, Norbert Kroó, Amirul Mukminin, Ljubov Shishelina

11:00-12:00 Discussion – Zoom

12:00-12:15 Short Break

12:15-12:30 Closing remarks – Facebook and Zoom

12:30 ‘winter school evaluation session’ with Igor Stipic – Zoom

Invited Speakers:

Izabella Agárdi (researcher of iASK)

Orsolya Bajer-Molnár (Konrad Lorenz Institute)

Graham Bell (director of MRA)

Károly Binder (pianist, composer)

Dion van den Berg (PAX for Peace)