Program Description
This ten-day-traveling seminar offers an immersive student experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s social, political, cultural, and natural environment. This experience will allow students to not only learn about Bosnia and Herzegovina in its complexity, but to reflect on and examine their own worldview, biases, and ways of life.
Students will be encouraged to consider both Bosnia and Herzegovina and their own “homelands” in a comparative light, allowing them to realize that their way of life is one among many, and that it is connected to all others. This course explores a) legacies of socialism; 2) global policies of postwar reconstruction, reconciliation, and state-building, and 3) environmental politics, struggles, and opportunities in the Balkans.
As the seminar group travels through Bosnia and Herzegovina, students will explore caves, lakes and national parks, as well as museums and historical sites. A night will be spent in a rural village, where students will be able to sample locally prepared food, climb mountains, go rafting, and discuss the effects man has on the environment and fragile eco system. As the journey continues, the group will meet with local tour guides who will provide insight into cultural and historical perspectives, and students will have the opportunity to meet and speak to people who experienced the war in Sarajevo and Srebrenica.
Program Dates
Peace and Conflict in the Balkans is offered as a post-semester seminar in the spring. It begins after the Florence semester program ends and returns to Florence upon completion.
Spring 2025:
- Departure from Florence: Wednesday, April 30
- Return to Florence: Friday, May 9
- Final departure from program: Saturday, May 10
Course Information
ANT/HST 300.10 Peace and Conflict in the Balkans (3 credits)
Faculty
The seminar will be led by Professor Azra Hromadžić, a social and cultural anthropologist specializing in international humanitarian interventions, state making and youth cultural formations; ageing, care, and social services; environment and struggle for water; and migration in the Balkans.
Program Itinerary
Seminar locations are subject to change, but common destinations for this seminar include:
- 2 nights in Bihac
- 1 night in Jajce
- 2 nights in Mostar
- 1 night in Umoljani village
- 3 nights in Sarajevo
Eligibility and Admissions
Peace and Conflict in the Balkans is open to students admitted into the Syracuse Center semester programs in Florence. Interested students must complete the Signature Seminar questionnaire in OrangeAbroad. A $300 deposit will be required to hold your place in the seminar. This is due upon receipt of your Peace and Conflict in the Balkans acceptance email. Details on submitting the deposit will be included in your acceptance email.
Enrollment in the seminar is limited, and it is to your advantage to apply early. In the event that there is insufficient interest in the seminar, Syracuse Abroad may choose to cancel the program.
Please note that you are required to register for at least 13 additional credits for a minimum of 16 credits for the semester, should you be accepted into this seminar. You should further understand that, if you register for more than 19 total credits, you will be charged additional tuition fees for each credit over 19, and you may not register for more than 22 total credits without prior academic approval.
Travel Arrangements
The seminar begins after the Florence semester program ends. Please check with Syracuse Abroad for more information about flights for this seminar. You will be responsible for return airfare to your home country after the program ends. Leaving before the seminar end date is not an option.
Cost
A Peace and Conflict in the Balkans seminar fee will be posted to your Syracuse Bursar account in addition to the semester program fee.
The seminar program fee covers ground transportation during the program, entrance fees to all sites, accommodation in double or twin rooms & some meals. Check with your financial aid office to determine if financial aid can be used towards the seminar fee. View all Cost & Aid details. The final date to withdraw from the seminar is December 1, after which students will be charged unrecoverable expenses.
Questions?
Contact your International Program Advisor at syrflorence@syr.edu