август 2023.

The Summer School on Forced Displacement was held at the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Belgrade from July 17 to 29, 2023. The Programme was created by professors and researchers from Boston University (BU) and the Faculty of Political Science (FPN).

The participants of the Summer school were undergraduate, MA and PhD students of Boston University, University of Belgrade and Sarajevo School of Science and Technology. The School’s intensive two-week programme included presentations by prominent experts from various fields and sectors, discussions and practical workshops.

The broader context of forced displacement was presented by prof. dr. Maja Kovačević and prof. dr. Natalija Perišić from the FPN, in their presentations on forced migration policies and practices in the European Union and Serbia. Marta Stojić Mitrović from the Ethnographic Institute SANU and Nidžara Ahmetašević, a journalist, spoke about the relations between the countries on the Western Balkan migration route, the repercussions of their efforts to become EU member states and the consequences for border regimes. Prof. dr Danica Šantić from the Faculty of Geography pointed out the characteristics of the so-called migration crisis in Serbia and migrant journeys. The specifics of the positions of forcibly displaced children were elaborated by assistant Violeta Marković and prof. dr. Natalija Perišić from the FPN, together with Marijana Hameršak from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research from Zagreb. The gender dimension of forced displacement was discussed by prof. dr. Katarina Lončarević from the FPN, Lidija Đorđević, activist of CSO “Atina” and prof. dr. Carrie Preston from the BU. Fabrizio Foschini, political analyst of the Afghan Analytical Network, Draga Šapić, psychologist from CSO “PIN”, Nataša Todorović from the Serbian Red Cross and prof. Dr. Muhammad Zaman from BU focused on the life in transit and reception centres. The security aspects of forced displacement were the focus of presentations given by prof. dr. Filip Ejdus from the FPN, prof. dr. Damir Kapidžić from the University of Sarajevo and professor for practice in international relations Vesko Garčević from the BU. Marina Lažetić from the BU presented the results of her research on attitudes towards migrants in Serbia. Experiences and incentives for research and work with migrants were discussed by prof. dr. Danilo Mandić from Harvard University, Assistant Professor Stefan Surlić from the FPN, Duško Petrović from the University of Zagreb and Dženet Koko, activist.

Representatives of numerous national and international organizations that provide various types of support and assistance to forced migrants shared their experiences with the participants of the Summer School. Bojan Stojanović from UNHCR presented the work with refugees and internally displaced persons in a historical perspective, Jelena Šurlan from KIRS pointed out the Government’s policy in the area of forced migration, while Gordana Grujučić from “Group 484”, Marko Štambuk from “Beogradski center for human rights”, Lidija Đorđević and the group for the advocacy of migrant women’s rights from “Atina”, Sara Ristić from “Klikativ”, Radoš Đurović from the “Center for the Protection of Asylum Seekers”, Maja Dragojević and Rajko Matuško from the “Center for Crisis Policy and Response ”, Andrea Rudnik from “Team Bronsville”, Kaitlin Roberson and Kasandra Stewart from “Rio Valley Relief Project”, Hope Barker from “BVMN” presented their work with forced migrants in different contexts. Teodora Jovanović from the Ethnographic Institute SANU organized a sensory walk through the city, with an accent on migrant topos and Maja Savić Bojanić from the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology showed the students practical aspects of migrant experiences. Prof. dr. Puja Ahmadi from the BU led workshops on the artistic representation of forced migration.