Summer Program in European Politics

The Emory University Department of Political Science offers a 6-week, 8-credit summer program on European Politics. The Summer 2025 program will be based in Berlin, Germany for 4 weeks, then spend 2 weeks visiting eastern Europe, including Prague, Czech Republic; Warsaw, Poland; Tallin, Estonia; and Stockholm, Sweden. Students will visit policymakers, party officials, academics, and activists with expertise in European security and democracy.

Students will be located in Alexanderplatz right by the river Spree as well as historical landmarks such as the Fernsehturm (Television) Tower, Berliner Dom, Checkpoint Charlie, and many more. As a group, we will attend walking tours of Prussian castles in Potsdam, the Berlin Wall, as well as the Sachsenhausen memorial. Individual budgets are also given to each student so they can attend concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic, take boat tours on the river, travel to the top of the TV tower, and any other cultural outing the student may be interested in.

The Program

The Emory European Politics Program enables students to consider the challenges of building and maintaining democratic states as well as a union of these states across a diverse continent – the fundamental project of the European Union. We also examine Europe's experience with authoritarianism, transitions to democracy, democratic governance, and democratic backsliding – and the links between these experience and the rise of political polarization and populism in Europe and around the world. Finally, the summer 2024 program will explore the European security experience since World War II. Coursework will cover different theories and conceptualizations of security, as well as the evolution of European domestic, regional, and international security institutions and policies. Students compliment coursework with guest lectures by activists, academics, and policymakers and site visits to various historical monuments and political institutions.

The Courses

The program offers two 4-credit courses for a total of 8 credit hours. All classes satisfy major requirements in Political Science and International Studies.

POLS 385: European Security (4 credits):

This course will explore the European Security experience since WWII to understand and discuss different theories and conceptualizations of security, including a solid understanding of the major theoretical perspectives in the field of security studies.  Students will explore the evolution of domestic, regional, and international security institutions and policies in Europe over the last 75 years and analyze contemporary security issues from a European and Global context.  It will explore how Europe has worked to promote its values abroad.  

POLS 385: Democracy in Europe (4 credits): 

After completing this course, students will be able to identify the major historical milestones in the development of democracy in Europe; understand the design and operation of major European political institutions; develop research and analysis skills; and write effective evidence-based arguments.

Outside the Classroom

To compliment what we learn in the classroom, we participate in site visits, meet with policymakers, and hear from guest lecturers. Below are examples of activities from past summers.

In Germany

• Brandenburger Tor: Brandenburg Gate
• Schloss Sanssouci: Sanssouci Palace
• Bundestag: German Parliament

In the Czech Republic:

• Pražský orloj: The Astronomical Clock
• Karlův most: Charles Bridge
• Malostranský chrám sv. Mikuláše: St. Nicholas Church

• Vanalinn: Old Town Tallinn
• Viru Väravad: Viru Gate
• Riigikogu: Parliament of Estonia

Application

Applications to the program are available on the Office of International and Study Programs (OISP) website. The application includes a $350 deposit (non-refundable if accepted to the program and applied to the cost of the program).

This program accepts applications on a rolling basis. Students will be notified within two weeks after submitting their complete application. OISP encourages students to submit their applications as early as possible because some programs fill up by the end of January.

The program will begin accepting applications in mid-December 2024 for the summer 2025 program. Applications will close in February, but students are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.