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02/04/2019 - 11:00

International Summer School: Democratic Constitutional Design

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The International Summer School is now admittings students for the program Democratic Constitutional Design: Negotiating Civic Engagement, Institutional Control and the Common Good at Bifröst July 20-25. 

One of the greatest challenges of contemporary politics is how to face new authoritarian tendencies in many new democracies, and deepening distrust and polarization in countries that for decades – even centuries – have played leading roles in cultivating and developing democratic governance.

The summer school looks at democratic constitutional design as a political project that can engage citizens in reimagining the fundamental contract of society. During one week of lectures, discussion and team work students will explore the role, nature and structure of constitutions.

The Icelandic constitutional experiment 2009-2013 will be studied, in which an elected Constitutional Council created a draft constitution using a fully open, inclusive and transparent process, thereby permanently affecting dominant ideas about constitutional design. Recent work in deliberative and epistemic democratic theory will be discussed as well as emerging ideas of democratic crowdsourcing and crowdlaw.

Special attention will be paid to democratic transitions – failed and successful – and to attempts to create methodologies for direct democratic control through mini-publics, public assemblies etc.

The Summer school program is a part of a research project funded by The Icelandic Research Fund. It is organized in collaboration with the Escapes from Modernity project which has a long experience of organizing summer schools in various European countries on topics relevant to human survival in modern society. See https://escapes.hse.ru.

The School will be held at the campus of Bifröst University located 100 km from Reykjavík the capital of Iceland. Students will have an opportunity to enjoy the unique environment of Bifröst – which is located in the middle of a lava field created in a local eruption around 1600 BC. The area is excellent for hiking and many kinds of outdoors activity.

Tentative schedule

20 July: Group meets in Reykjavík, travels to Bifröst by bus, via Thingvellir

21-24 July: lectures, seminars and team-work. Key topics:

  • Negotiating the Constitution: History and reality of constitutions
  • Public engagement in policy- and decision-making
  • The Icelandic constitutional experiment: Lessons learned
  • Deliberative to epistemic democracy: A way forward?
  • The global crisis of Liberal Democracy and the challenge of populism
  • Russia's failed transition: Lessons for democracy
  • Democracy in Iceland, promises, myths, visions

25 July: closing day, student presentations, discussion, final party

26 July: Bus to Reykjavík

The school can admit up to 20 students for the program. Senior undergraduates, M.A. students and Ph.D. candidates are encouraged to apply. Students receive free accommodation and meals during their stay at Bifröst.

Program leaders are Sergei Medvedev (Higher school of economics, Moscow) and Jón Ólafsson (University of Iceland, Reykjavík). The school will invite a number of lecturers both academics and practitioners to lead its sessions.

Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program. Applications (cover letter, cv and a certification of good academic standing) should be sent to Jón Ólafsson, jonolafs@hi.is no later than 1 May 2019.

Bifröst University