INFORMATION ON THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM
2008 International Institute for Political and Economic Studies
Nature of the Program
The International Institute for Political and Economic Studies was established in 1996. The Institute brings together students from throughout the Eastern Mediterranean region for extensive study and discussion of the political and economic concepts of a free society. Among the participants, the Institute facilitates new personal relationships that bridge the conflicts among Judaic, Christian and Moslem worlds. The Institute is held in partnership with the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation and Georgetown University. The mission of the Institute is to build support for the values of freedom, democracy and market economy among outstanding university students from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds in the Eastern Mediterranean.
IIPES is an academic program designed to teach and discuss the political, economic, and cultural issues of the world as it grows under democratic principles. We encourage students to continue the discussions of the issues raised in class outside of the classroom as learning is often best done with peers in a more social setting. For this reason, we encourage students to get to know each other outside of class, and we plan events to facilitate this interaction. The Institute is designed to provide a truly rewarding cultural experience, but we expect the students to maintain a high level of academic performance.
Individuals not enrolled in the program may not attend Institute’s events or stay in the dormitory. Due to the busy schedule of the Institute, we highly discourage long distance travel by participants or visits from friends or relatives during the program.
Student Participation
We fully expect each student to attend every academic and extra-curricular session, complete all reading assignments, participate actively in class discussions, and show respect and consideration to fellow Institute participants, faculty and guest lecturers. Given the brief duration of the Institute, full participation is necessary and mandatory. You must ask permission of the program director to be absent from any class or event. Failure to regularly attend all scheduled Institute events will result in your dismissal from the Institute, since any lack of participation reflects poorly upon the entire Institute. If any student is removed from the Institute, there will be no refund of money, and travel costs will be the responsibility of the student.
Institute Format
Academics
The central part of the Institute is an interdisciplinary academic course in political economy which is officially known as Georgetown University Course # LSHS 48530. This course is classified under the Liberal Studies, Human and Social Behavior Department of the School for Summer and Continuing Education. The course is divided into three primary components: political economy, political philosophy and conflict management. The course will be taught by a team of professors from Georgetown University and other prestigious universities in the United States. Both graduate and undergraduate credit worth three credit hours is available from Georgetown University upon successful completion.
The political economy component of the course will study the principles of democracy and market economics, and apply those principles to the Eastern Mediterranean region and the Balkans. Lectures will contrast the features of democratic and authoritarian regimes and evaluate the economic, international and political benefits of democracy. Students also will discuss frameworks for developing and sustaining civil societies in the countries of the region.
The economics classes will examine the structure and functions of a market economy in the context of such fundamental issues as free trade, the role of government in the economy and private property rights. Students will not only discuss economic theory, but also analyze economic strategy in real world political situations.
The conflict management component of the course will examine the role of the international community in reducing violent conflicts. Lectures and readings will analyze the politics of international conflict management, the roles played by states and international organizations, and examine relevant concepts offered by a variety of theories from the social sciences.
Classes are scheduled in the mornings and afternoons. Professors will give daily reading assignments which students are expected to complete. Dialogue sessions and special events are also planned with scholars and policy makers concerning the issues that affect the region. The presentations of these guest lecturers will be designed to supplement material covered in class.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The annual Country/Cultural Presentations Dinner is a fun and highly anticipated event. Students are grouped by citizenship and make a brief presentation about their native country. Through such forms of expression as acting, singing and dancing, students teach their fellow classmates about their country’s culture, history and political system. You may wish to bring native costumes, musical instruments, etc. with you to Crete for use during your country presentation. The event will most likely be held outside this year; we should be able to use tape and cd players, but students will not be able to use Power Point for their presentations.
Exam and program evaluation
All students must complete the program evaluation and take the written examination. Your performance on this exam will determine your grade in the course. You must take this course for a grade; pass/not pass is not an option.
For course credit, you will be asked to indicate if you would like to be issued “undergraduate” or “graduate” credit for the course. In the American educational system, undergraduate credit goes towards a Bachelor’s degree. Graduate credit goes towards a Master’s degree or a PhD. You must decide how the credit will be most useful to you. Professors will expect a higher performance on the final exam from those seeking graduate credit. Official Georgetown University transcripts will be mailed to you in the fall.
About The Fund for American Studies
The Fund for American Studies was founded in 1967 to instill in college students an appreciation for the traditional principles that underlie the American political and economic system. In partnership with Georgetown University, The Fund for American Studies sponsors nine Institutes that educate more than 700 students each year. More than 7,500 students from more than 80 countries have attended Fund programs. The Fund sponsors five Institutes in Washington, DC: The Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems, The Institute on Political Journalism, The Bryce Harlow Institute on Business and Government Affairs, The Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service, and the Capital Semester Program. www.dcinternships.org
In 1993, the Fund created its first international program at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. The American Institute on Political and Economic Systems hosts students from countries of Eastern and Central Europe and studies the political and economic transition process of the post-Communist era. In 1996, The Fund expanded its international programs with IIPES; and in 2002, the Asia Institute for Political Economy was launched in Hong Kong, SAR. In 2004, we launched our first international journalism program in Prague, the European Journalism Institute. www.tfasinternational.org
About Georgetown University
Founded in 1789 in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic institution of higher learning in the United States. Since its beginning, Georgetown has received international recognition as a school with a student body characterized by its religious pluralism. Today, more than 12,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries come to Washington, DC to enroll in one of Georgetown University's five undergraduate schools, the graduate school, or professional schools of law and medicine. Despite its vibrant growth and development in the 20th century, Georgetown University is still committed to individual attention and learning embraced by the small academy that staked its claim on Washington's hilly riverbank more than 200 years ago. Georgetown’s School for Summer and Continuing Education is an academic partner in all of the programs sponsored by The Fund for American Studies.
About The Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation(GAAEC)
The Greek Association for Atlantic & European Cooperation (G.A.A.E.C.), established in 1991, is a registered non-governmental, non-profit organization (NGO) committed to the cohesion of international relations and the importance of education by promoting constructive leadership and engagement.
GAAEC holds programs that identify challenges and opportunities, highlight choices and foster informed public debate about Greek, European, and Transatlantic foreign and economic policies.
G.A.A.E.C. represents Greece in the Atlantic Treaty Association(A.T.A., which includes the NATO countries as well as the Partnership for Peace and the Mediterranean Dialogue Partner countries), the EuroDefence-International network, AWEPA(Association of Parliamentarians for Africa, a leading NGO headquartered in the Netherlands with more than 3,000 parliamentarians and experts from all European countries), Women In International Security(WIIS, a non-profit educational program dedicated to increasing the influence of women in the field of foreign and defence policy by raising their numbers and visibility ).
GAAEC holds many educational programs in partnership with NGOs, foundations and universities. The International Institute for Political & Economic Studies (www.tfasinternational.org) is one of GAAEC’s programs, in partnership with The Fund for American Studies and Georgetown University . It is the largest educational summer program in the Mediterranean as it involves more than 80 university students (selected under strict criteria and among an extensive number of applications) from 24 countries of the Middle East, the Balkans, and the U.S. “Kernels of our Future’ is another educational international summer program for teenagers established in 2004.
About The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute at Chania (M.A.I.Ch.)
The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh) was created in accordance with Law 4443/64, which established Greece as a founder-member of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM). The Centre constitutes an international organization whose aim is the development of scientific cooperation in the sectors of economics, rural development, management, and applied biological, technological and environmental sciences, addressing problems in the Mediterranean area. The Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes of Bari ( Italy), Montpellier ( France) and Saragoza ( Spain) are constituent Institutes of the same organisation. The annual budget contribution of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania is entirely provided by the Greek government.
The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania offers post-graduate specialist studies (over a period of two academic years), leading to the degree of Master of Science (M.Sc.). Courses are conducted in the English language by visiting professors from Greek, European, American and Mediterranean Universities in cooperation with the Institute. Research work at Master's level is carried out under the supervision and guidance of University professors and researchers.
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