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SPS Summer Academy

Programme Start Date

01/09/2025

Methodology

Residential

Location

Badia Fiesolana

Applications closed

Democracy, Society & Foreign Affairs: Latest Insights from Political Science, Sociology, and International Relations

The annual Summer Academy organised by the Department of Political and Social Sciences (SPS) provides a fresh perspective on major challenges faced by contemporary European societies. It offers a week of highly interactive lectures and workshops, during which the participants can learn about the latest research findings from studies conducted by the academic experts in the SPS faculty.

While Professor Juho Härkönen will give a lecture on socioeconomic divergence in family structures, Professor Filip Kostelka will present an analysis of the current trends in citizen political participation. Professor Waltraud Schelkle will delve into the question of transnational solidarity in Europe. Then Professor Jeffrey T. Checkel in his lecture will address a topic of pluralism in the social sciences and explain why it is beneficial for social science researchers.

Professor Stefano Guzzini will deliver a lecture explaining why it is useful to apply constructivism in International relations and Professor Arnout Van Der Rijt will present the PhD programme at the EUI, in particular, at the Department of Political and Social Sciences. Finally, during her keynote lecture Professor Valentina Di Stasio will elaborate on the cumulative impact of discrimination. Discussion around these topics and others chosen by the attendees will be further pursued in workshops led by EUI postdoctoral fellows.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and you are keen to learn more about this year’s topic Democracy, Society & Foreign Affairs: Latest Insights from Political Science, Sociology, and International Relations, you are in the right place.

By clicking on the application button you will be redirected to an application form. In order to finalise and submit the application, you will need to create an account, and then answer all the questions and upload all the required documents.

Once you have submitted your application, stay tuned! We will reply to all applicants by the 20th of June.

 

For more information, please visit the Academy Blog

The Department of Political and Social Sciences (SPS) seeks an established or emerging scholar in political science, sociology or international relations from a Widening country* to deliver a guest lecture during the SPS Summer Academy. The lecture should be 1.5 hours in length and draw upon the guest lecturer’s ongoing research or published works that have been recognized in well-respected, peer-reviewed journals. The guest lecture’s theme should align with the SPS Summer Academy’s general theme (Democracy, Society, and Foreign Affairs).

The Department is pleased to offer the guest lecturer accommodation (up to a maximum of 800 euros), travel expenses (up to a maximum of 500 euros), and meals from September 1th to September 5th, 2025. Additionally, the guest lecturer will have access to an office space and the EUI’s research facilities, as well as the opportunity to participate in all social events hosted by the SPS Summer Academy.

To apply for the guest lecturer position, interested candidates should submit their CV, a list of publications, and a summary of their intended lecture (limited to 1 page) in a single PDF to [email protected] (with [email protected] in copy). The summary should also include an explanation of how the proposed lecture fits into the SPS Summer Academy’s general theme (Democracy, Society & Foreign Affairs: Latest Insights from Political Science, Sociology, and International Relations). Selection for the position will be based on academic excellence. We strongly encourage female scholars and individuals from underprivileged backgrounds to apply.

Deadline for applications: Monday, May 26, 2025

*The guest lectureship is sponsored by the EUI Widening Programme. This initiative, backed by contributions from the European Union and EUI Contracting States, is designed to strengthen internationalisation, competitiveness, and quality in research in the so-called Widening countries, and thus foster a more cohesive European Higher Education and Research area.

Scholars employed by universities in the following countries are eligible:

  • In the European Union: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
  • Outside the European Union: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine.