Tübingen International & European Studies Winter School January 2026 on Culture and Identity

["Students can choose between two study tracks:Study Track A) Europe, Memory, and DiversityThis programme delves into the political processes entailed in remembering and forgetting, introduces students to the commemorative landscape of the EU and explores possible solutions to the challenges facing European collective memory or what could be called Europe's culture of remembrance. Sessions will deal with what makes us remember some things while other facets of our lives and historical events are suppressed or hard to recollect. How does what we remember (and what we [choose to] forget) structure the reality that we live in – physically, symbolically, and politically? How is the past used (or abused) to serve the present needs of individuals and collectives in Europe today, where different concepts of identity often times clash with the reality of cosmopolitan communities that are both ethnically and culturally diverse?Study Track B) States, People, and the Question of Identity in EuropeThe past years have seen the EU facing a lot of criticism from various sides and a plethora of challenges threaten the community – internally and externally – and what held its societies together for a long time. In this programme, students examine the fundamental notions at the heart of what Europe stands for: pluralism, democracy, subsidiarity, and the rule of law. Furthermore, courses cover the current challenges Europe and the EU face today: the rise of nationalism; political fragmentation and radicalisation; migration, religion and questions of identity and war.Both tracksIn addition to the academic programme, we offer all participants German language classes (for beginners [A1] and students who already possess some German skills [A1-A2]), an intercultural workshop that prepares participants for the very diverse setting in which all classes take place, a buddy programme that matches each participant with local students who offer support throughout the duration of the programme (and beforehand), and a rich and varied social programme that offers many opportunities to experience arts, culture, and local student life in one of Germany’s most historical university towns."]