The "Orange Revolution" in the Ukraine and the "Russian Revolution" of 1917 are two examples of revolutions with far-reaching consequences for Europe. At the summer school for Eastern European Studies, these have been examined from the standpoint of their structural and normative effects in the immediate periphery - not in Moscow or Kiev, but rather in Odessa, the city whose earlier history of revolution makes it especially well-suited for this.

Until 1920, as an important city on the Black Sea's harbor, Odessa played a significant role in charting the path for the Russian Empire's Soviet or else alternative, civic-minded future. Today the population of Odessa is divided into groups of citizens with either Pro-west or Pro-Russian orientations.

How should the relationship between the sheer event of revolution, something by definition set against rules and regulations, and establishing a new order founded by necessity on rules and regulations be explained? And how successful is constructing a democracy from the spirit of revolution? These were the main issues that have been dealt with at the summer school and in conversations conducted with local academicians and the representatives of institutions.

This year's summer school was jointly directed by Prof. Dr. Martin Schulze Wessel, Prof. Dr. Petra Stykow, and Dr. Frithjof Benjamin Schenk of the LMU.

Alongside guest lectures by Ukrainian and German experts as well as excursions, a one-day workshop in collaboration with students of the National Mečnikov University of Odessa took place. Its goal was to achieve a mutual understanding for various interpretations of the concept of revolution from an international perspective. In doing so, special emphasis was not only given to imparting knowledge, but also to the practice of acquiring a command of languages, training by teamwork, and making professional and social contacts for expanding the network between Germany and Eastern Europe.

The aim of the course is the mediation of regional competence for Middle Eastern, Southeastern, and Eastern Europe. The exceptionally talented students selected for this purpose are capable of analyzing developments and situations, and classifying them by their respective political, social, legal, economical, historical, and cultural background information. Apart from professional know-how and a command of languages, also conveyed will be key qualifications which should later make it possible for students to take on responsible tasks in the fields of politics, culture, economy, and science.

Project duration: 09/24/2009-10/07/2009

Project venue: Odessa and Kiew (Ukraine)

Project partners: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) of Munich, University of Regensburg