Sommeruniversity 2024

The German-Danish border region has changed fundamentally over the past 100 years: From a disputed stretch of land between two unequal neighbors to a model region for national minorities and peaceful coexistence. The border, which was defined by referenda in 1920, remained controversial for a long time – both among the national minorities and the respective majority populations.

Today, the border and its creation are celebrated, even though it separated people and created national minorities. On both sides of the border, society and politics have had to respond to the social inequalities between minority and majority populations, prevent discrimination and deal with identity politics.

The Summer University ’24 focuses on the situation of these minorities, who were politically and socially disadvantaged during the interwar period, but who today have a special function as European bridge builders. 

Using the example of the German-Danish border region, the dimensions of equality or inequality will be addressed. For the first time, it will be asked whether the softening of nation-state borders has led to a transnationalization of perceived (in)equality.

An intercultural place of learning

The summer school will examine different national narratives, visit regional memorials, and discuss the importance of national minorities to contemporary society. Participants:will work in small groups to create various podcasts to understand and communicate both the specific stories and their uses. Here they will have the opportunity to work with individual perspectives on history, culture, and politics in a multi-ethnic society.

International participants and interdisciplinary research

As a cooperative event of the International Business Communication Studies and the Center for Border Region Studies of the University of Southern Denmark, the Institute for Hessian Regional History of the Philipps-University of Marburg, the Department of Regional History of the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, the Frisian Seminar and the study program European Cultures and Societies of the European-University of Flensburg, the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation for the Promotion of Foreigners, the Association of German Northern Schleswig and the Danish Central Library for Southern Schleswig, the Summer University is aimed at students of various disciplines.

The international and interdisciplinary structure enables the participants to analyze the development of a historical border region from different perspectives. This opens up a new perspective on the history and present in the German-Danish border region for students and lecturers alike. The Summer University thus represents an innovative place of study and encounter that consciously promotes professional, interdisciplinary and intercultural exchange. Working languages of the Summer University are German and English.