At Roskilde University the Danish Summer School focused on internal contestations of EU values, exploring populism, Euroscepticism, and democracy. Lectures addressed the conceptualization and theories of populism and Euroscepticism, the rise of populist parties, comparisons between populism in Europe and beyond, responses to populism both within and outside Europe, and the EU’s rule of law crisis.
The five-day programme and its daily structure are outlined below.Â
Program Overview
Session 1 — What is populism and how do we recognise it?
Lecturers: Amelie Kutter, Sorina Soare, Francesco Campo
This first session addresses how populism can be defined and recognised.
Session 2 — How to conduct a Critical Discourse Analysis of populist practice
Lecturer: Amelie Kutter
This session introduces students to the theoretical perspective and analytical techniques of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA).
Joint Session — What (if anything) are EU values?
Lecturer: Timm Beichelt
Introduction to the ValEUs approach to European values and the gap between ideals and practice.
Session 1 — Populism and Euroscepticism: Elections and institutions
Lecturers: Sorina Soare, Erica Edwards
This session explores the evolving interaction between populism and Euroscepticism within the institutional framework of the European Parliament.
Session 2 — Populism, liberalism, and democracy
Lecturer: Angela Bourne
In this session we look at several different takes on the relationship between populism, liberalism and democracy.
Joint Session — Europe in ‘Polycrisis’
Lecturer: Amelie Kutter (EUV)
Understanding Europe’s overlapping crises and their impact on political and institutional transformation.
Field Trip and Simulation game
In this simulation game, you will take on the role as representatives from different EU Member States who are meeting in Brussels to negotiate a new EU budget and a common EU migration and asylum policy.
Session 1 — Reflections on the simulation game
Lecturer: Francesco Campo
In this session, we discuss the simulation game and the visit to the DEO.
Joint Session — Mass Migration & Externalisation of EU Migration Policy
Lecturer: Ayhan Kaya (BÄ°LGÄ°)
Analysis of human mobility from the Middle East and the EU–Turkey Refugee Deal.
Sessions 1 — Populism and regionalism beyond Europe
Lecturers: Erica Edwards and Sorina Soare
This session expands the analysis of populism and regionalism beyond the European context.
Sessions 2 — Transnationalism, Euroscepticism and populism
Lecturers: Erica Edwards, Sorina Soare, Francesco Campo
This session examines how populism and Euroscepticism extend beyond national borders, gaining momentum through international, supranational and transnational cooperation among political actors, civil society organisations, media networks, and ideological platforms.
Joint Session — Whose Values? A Postcolonial Look at the EU and the Global South
Lecturer: Nina Sajić (UNIBL)
A postcolonial perspective on EU universalism and emerging alternative visions from the Global South.
Session 1 — Responding to Populism at home and abroad
Lecturers: Francesco Campo, Angela Bourne
This session examines strategies for opposing populist parties in Europe.
Session 2 — Wrap of the summer school
Lecturers: Angela Bourne, Francesco Campo, Amelie Kutter, Erica Edwards
In this session we will debate the internal contestation of EU Values, drawing on what we have learned from the previous sessions.
Joint Session — Democratic Backsliding and the Rule of Law Crisis in the EU
Lecturer: Angela Bourne (RUC)
Examination of democratic backsliding in EU member states and institutional responses.
Full Programme & Curriculum
Photo Highlights from the Roskilde Summer School
