16th Annual Summer School on National Minorities Europe’s Non-Kin-State Minorities: Profiles and Realities

About

This Summer School aims to provide a platform for stock-taking of non-kin-state minorities (NKSM) of various categories, examining their relations with host states, and the challenges they face in realising their linguistic, socio-economic, and political rights in the absence of an external kin-state. It will bring together young academics, scholars, and minority practitioners, offering a safe, intellectually nurturing space for networking and discussing the realities and profiles of NKSM in Europe.

While kin-state politics have garnered significant scholarly and political attention (including the 2025 Summer School organised by the ECMI and the Coppieters Foundation), numerous minority communities in Europe do not benefit from the backing that kin-states provide and vary in size, territorial concentration, and legal standing. NKSM groups include territorially organised minorities (e.g. Catalans, Basques, and Corsicans), territorially concentrated but minoritised groups (West Frisians), small and endangered minorities (Sorbs and North Frisians), dispersed communities (Roma and Sinti), and Indigenous peoples (Saami and Greenlanders).

This Summer School will examine these five types of NKSM, allowing for a comparative assessment of how linguistic vitality, social cohesion, access to education, and relations with the state are shaped in the absence of a kin-state. Among other topics, Summer School participants will learn about the role of Europeanisation and international organisations in advancing the rights of NKSM.

TOPICS COVERED
• Conceptual foundations of the categorisation of NKSM
• The role of international organisations in protecting the rights of NKSM
• Linguistic, cultural, political, and socio-economic rights of NKSM
• Lived experiences of NKSM and their shared and specific challenges.

Applicants are required to submit a completed online application form, which includes questions on general information (contact details, affiliation, practical and logistical information) and motivation. To finalise the submission of an application, applicants must also submit their detailed CV via email to summerschool@ecmi.de no later than 10 May 2026. Please state "SuS26 Application_Your surname" in the subject line.

Access the online application form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTYfjWv0i6SF9DeV5dZ9aw0rf5N0mjyX7QrmJ7-IhMCe0H2Q/viewform?usp=header

The selection will be based on academic and professional achievements, as well as expressed interest in the topic. Diversity within the group, in terms of professional background, gender, and country of origin, will be an important factor in the selection process.

The selection will be based on academic and professional achievements, as well as expressed interest in the topic. Diversity within the group, in terms of professional background, gender, and country of origin, will be an important factor in the selection process.

This Summer School is a joint initiative of the ECMI and Coppieters Foundation and hosted by the Danish Central Library for Southern Schleswig in Flensburg.

Should you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with ECMI Summer School coordinators: Aziz Berdiqulov (berdiqulov@ecmi.de) and Viktoria Aygül (ayguel@ecmi.de)

Course leader

The European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)

Target group

The Summer School team aims to select a total number of 25 junior scholars, researchers or practitioners, having the following professional background:
• Students from relevant fields of study (MA and PhD students), and/or
• Practitioners from the public sector, NGOs, and mass media

Course aim

The programme will combine traditional and non-formal educational methods, interactive sessions, and networking activities, and will encourage participants to engage critically with the course topics from different perspectives and disciplinary approaches.

Our schedule will include:
• Lectures and seminars by experts in the field of minority rights and minority issues
• Interactive workshops, panel discussions, and group work for immersive learning experiences
• Exclusive networking opportunities with local stakeholders, enhancing practical understanding through real-world examples
• A field visit to the island of Föhr, home to a significant North Frisian community
• An array of social events to enhance the learning experience and foster connections

Fee info

The fee covers: • The programme of lectures and workshops • All reading materials before and during the Summer School • Accommodation (including breakfast) in either twin rooms with a private bathroom or triple rooms with a shared bathroom from 23 August (Sunday) to 29 August (Saturday). Room allocation will be made on a first-come, first-served basis • Lunches and light refreshments between 24 and 28 August, plus a closing dinner • A field trip to the island of Föhr • Participation in all additional Summer School activities (city tour, social activities, and visits to museums and exhibitions)