This is a project proposal to be implemented in the spring of 2004 by EUROLINK - House of Europe, Romania in co-operation with

Argument:

As resulted from the research and debate within the cross-border SEE network launched within our previous project “National Histories in South-Eastern Europe and History of a United Europe”, the curricula in National History need a correlative both theoretical and methodological perspective on the whole Balkan region and its historical evolution. Most of students and young teachers claim the introduction of such an additional approach, in order to better frame the student books, especially at the level of high-school, within the context of common developing trends, problems and identity needs in the South-Eastern part of the newly emerging Europe.

The future of Balkans as a whole is still under question, as Europe itself is trying to define a new pluralistic identity. In this time, new misperceptions, inter-ethnic and inter-confessional conflicts, economic divisions or regional threats are still present in mentalities or could impredictibily appear. Despite political or scientific discussion on a common or divided vocation of SEE, the new young elites and generation itself started to perceive in a new way the relations and opportunities within the SEE subcontinent. Also, as they aspire to a more stable and prosperous perspective for their region, they still need a more objective knowledge about their past, myths, customs and traditions, in order to: stimulate the commitment for the stabilization and association process; to establish a more coherent and balanced image about the opportunities of participation to the European construction; to assume the requirements of a regional integration, before to accede to the European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.

General mission of the project:

The partner-organisations intend to strengthen a new cooperative working style and scientific consultation - inaugurated within our previous project - between representatives of curricula bodies and academic societies of history professors/teachers/research experts in order to enforce an adapted theoretical/methodological perspective on the Issue of National Minorities within Contemporary South Eastern Europe History (1918-1992), especially at the level of high-schools, in view of preparing the young generation for their involvement within the process of accession to the European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.

This project represents a follow-up to our previous Student Cross-border Networking Project concerning the teaching/learning of National Histories in the context of the enlargement process of EU and NATO.

On the basis of the previous common reflection, research and advocacy achievements of the student/alumni network on the curricula of National History, we focus on three main following areas:

• a common theoretical approach on the National/Religious Minorities within the Contemporary South Eastern Europe History intended to high-school students in South-Eastern European educational systems;
• a deeper integration within the study and public consciousness of the role played by national/religious minorities, seen from a more coherent and pluralistic, geo-political/regional perspective;
• the improving of the specific methodological tools used by historians in the region, in order to contribute to the stabilisation and regional integration process through a larger involvement of young scholars and academic environment.

For the documentation, research and elaboration process of the Text-Book and Essential Readings, we will benefit of the scientific support of:

• the Study Visit is plan to be organised at Central European University in Budapest, Hungary;
• the European History Conference will take place at the Western University of Timisoara (Western part of Romania);
• meetings and debates between the members of the Join Task Force Group and representatives of curricula committees will take place in each participating country;
• the Evaluation Seminar and Final Press Conference will take place in Bucharest, with the support of the National Curricula Committee of the Ministry of Education and Research, and of the Faculty of History of the University of Bucharest.

1. to improve the theoretical, methodological background, as well as the advocacy & lobby skills of the members of the cross-border regional Joint Task Force Group and whole SEEC Network;
2. to promote a new scientific approach and its appropriate tools concerning the presence and role of national/religious minorities in South-Eastern Europe, with a special focus on SEE Roma minorities, from a regional and coherent perspective;
3. to motivate and support the regional identity and the pro-European attitudes of pupils/students in the region in view of the European unification process and accession to the Euro-Atlantic organisations (NATO and ESCO).

• Direct beneficiaries:
  • postgraduate students and young alumni/experts in History Studies from all countries Members of the Stability Pact in SEE;
  • members of the curricula scientific committees in History from all countries Members of the Stability Pact in SEE.