• Title: Transnational Perspectives on Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea Region: Past and Present
• Place: The Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden
• Date: 18-23 August 2025

Introduction

Focusing on distinctive features, unique events, and specific developments is a common approach to studying national politics, histories, and societies. However, ideas, technological innovations, and political movements have historically transcended national borders, a phenomenon amplified in today’s globalized world. Scholarship on Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea Region often emphasizes regional differences rather than examining the exchange of knowledge, practices, and institutions. Recent studies on empires, inter-imperial relations, and the role of Eastern European actors in transnational mobility, commercial entanglements, and cultural exchange have highlighted the region’s historical and present participation in global connectivity. Transnational interactions have significantly shaped global economic, scientific, and cultural cooperation, both within the region and beyond. Nevertheless, challenges to transnational connectivity persist, most notably embodied by the Russian war on Ukraine, but also from a gender perspective or within the EU, where populist politics is on the rise both in the “East” and in the “West”.

This Summer School critically examines transnational approaches, highlighting their distinction from government-focused international relations and global studies perspectives. It explores the epistemic potential of transnationalism for research on Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. By drawing on broader transnational and decolonial genealogies, and the region’s role in global civil society, the school fosters discussions on the impacts of political, social, economic, cultural, religious, and artistic exchanges involving Eastern Europe.

By the conclusion of the course, participants will have developed proficiency in applying transnational approaches to analyze the historical and contemporary circulation of ideas, institutions, people, goods, and cultural constructs.

Application details:

• We welcome applications from students who are currently pursuing PhD studies focused on Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region, particularly those exploring transnational connections and entanglements.
• Students are awarded 7.5 ECTs for the completed course and will receive a Certificate of Completion.
• Participation in the Summer School is free of charge. Accommodation costs (5 nights), including breakfasts, lunches, two dinners, and an excursion, will be covered by CBEES.
• Students are responsible for covering their travel expenses to and from Stockholm and local transportation costs within the city.
• Applicants must submit a short CV (maximum two pages) and a two-page project description (in Word or PDF format, Times New Roman, 12, 1,5 line spacing).
• The application is done using the online form - see the yellow button bellow
• The number of places in the course is limited.

Link to the form: https://forms.office.com/e/TQYG0jVTp2 External link.

• The application form is accessible from 21 February.
• The application deadline is 21 March, 23:59 (Stockholm time).
• Applicants will be notified of their admission status by mid-April.

If you have any questions, please contact summeruniversity@sh.se