In delivering on its Jean Monnet “Support to Associations” grant, AESC in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is preparing a textbook on European Studies in the Caucasus. This textbook, to be prepared in English and subsequently to be translated to Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian, will address the level of bachelor students in a variety of European Studies-related disciplines, e.g. political science, international relations, sociology, law, economics. The English-language version shall be published with ibidem / Cambridge University Press in the AESC book series, translations will be made available in all three countries of the Caucasus.
Unlike standard textbooks, this textbook will be written based on the interdisciplinary analysis of seven essential values that the European Union purports to support (each to be covered in one chapter) and which interact with the societal values of each of the South Caucasus countries. There will thus be a total of 7 chapters, and each chapter shall be written by 2-3 authors (representing different disciplinary fields) from at least two countries of the South Caucasus. The values to be discussed in the textbook include:
1) Solidarity as the value of community,
2) Freedom as the value of autonomy,
3) Equality as the value of non-discrimination,
4) Tolerance as the value of diversity,
5) Justice as the value of proportionality,
6) Peace as the value of coexistence,
7) Human dignity as the intrinsic value of man.
An editorial concept has been developed by the AESC Management Board and shall be discussed and deepened with the chosen authors at a first authors’ workshop, to be held in Tbilisi in the second half of October 2019. Further authors’ workshops will follow in 2020.
Konrad Adenauer Foundation is kindly providing funding for the travel cost for 10-12 authors from Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as accommodation for a 3 days workshop (exact dates to be confirmed). Authors from Georgia are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation, but may receive financial support in exceptional cases (e.g. authors not hailing from Tbilisi). Lunches and one dinner invitation will be provided, but no per diems.
In selecting authors, we are looking for the following qualities:
- Academic experience in teaching on the bachelor level in one of the countries of the South Caucasus in any one of the relevant disciplines;
- relevant publications;
- open-mindedness and a willingness to think “out of the box”.
If you would like to join us in this project, please send your CV, a short letter of motivation (one page maximum) and a chapter proposal describing, in particular, (1) author’s methodological and theoretical approach to the chosen topic and (2) outlining author’s vision on how to teach EU Studies through the prism of the chosen value with the indication of possible didactic methods and tools” to AESCtextbook@gmail.com by September 1st, 2019. Selected candidates will be informed in early September and will be expected to present and discuss their first draft papers at a workshop in the second half of October 2019 / early November 2019. The exact timing of the workshop will be determined based on participants’ availability.
This call is open also for non-AESC members, but in making the selection AESC membership will be a plus.
Please consider membership, it is free for applicants from the Caucasus region.
Apply for Membership here!