Course Focus
From 1990 to 1995, the former Yugoslavia devolved into a series of wars of succession. Complicating matters was the issue of expatriated nationals; Serbs and Croats did not live exclusively in Serbia and Croatia. Sovereignty, therefore, was a threat to the survival of identity for some. These wars of succession were genocidal and extracted the highest toll on Croats, Serbs, and Bosnians. The siege of Vukovar in 1991 was the emblem of Croatia’s War of Independence; it completely destroyed one of the former Yugoslavia’s most prosperous cities.
Nearly seventeen years after the siege of Vukovar began and thirteen years after hostilities in the region ended, Croatia is a country in transition. It’s an exciting time to be in Croatia. The Dal-matian coast, famous for its beaches, islands, and Roman ruins, is experiencing rapid develop-ment in its tourist sector. The inland capital city of Zagreb is quickly becoming a regional center for capital and commerce. The Croatian state is preparing for admission to the European Union. Things are not as dynamic, however, in Vukovar.
Why has Vukovar failed to rebuild effectively? The Croatian government has funded the construction of new schools and have repaired city hall, but the city’s population is less than 60% of its pre-war total. The local economy is still in shatters; houses on the main highway are still missing roofs and walls. International organizations (i.e. OSCE) have removed the landmines and moved on, but what about repairing the lives of those they left behind?
Despite peace between Serbs and Croats in Vukovar, despite the possibility of admission to the EU and NATO, and despite the world’s interest in the Dalmatian coast, life is not much better for those living in Vukovar than it was in 1995. In this course, you will work with a team of Croa-tian and Balkan university students to research the causes of this endemic social problem, pro-pose projects that address these causes, and practice the skills necessary to create meaningful so-cial change. Through this course, you will understand why societies fail to provide a better life for some while practicing the methods for addressing this problem.
The practical matter of Vukovar’s rebuilding leads us to two questions that frame our work and discussions this summer: Why does society change? How does society change? While moral philosophers (e.g. Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau) and social scientists (i.e. Mancur Olson) usually focus on former question, those that seek practical knowledge seek to understand the latter. While there is no conclusive answer to “why?” there is a proven and effective answer to “how?” that we have learned from leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez. This course asks you to investigate both questions in Vukovar.
Participating students will come from different cultural backgrounds: mostly from Croatia, America, and the Balkans. Don’t be surprised if we have a student from Western Europe, Rus-sia, or Japan. In small groups that reflect this diversity, we will charge you with the responsibility of forming an organization that draws on the strengths of its individual members. Cooperation will be paramount to productivity; in order to become agents of change, you will learn how to use diversity to your advantage.
The bottom line is that this course is unlike any other that you will take. It is practical, skill-based training in the business of creating a better world. If you enter this experience with an open mind and a spirit of adventure and entrepreneurialism, there is no limit to what you can learn this summer and for years to come.
