Balkan Study Trip

Read below the full educational tour itinerary and details about the ultimate 10 stops on our study tour journey.

Illyrians, Romans, and Slavs

This tour offers a guide to the ancient history of the Balkans through a museum visit and a guest speaker. You will have the chance to learn about the ancient history of the Balkans, which is often overlooked in other tours that tend to focus more on medieval and modern periods. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the roots of Balkan history.

Middle ages

Ottomans, and Habsburgs, with a focus on the history of Bosnia and the external powers that ruled over it. This topic also covers the medieval history of Serbia and Croatia, as well as international relations from the middle ages to the present.

Shot that changed the world

Have you ever wondered why Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand? Would the First World War have occurred if he had not? While it is likely that the war would have occurred regardless, our tour and guest speakers will provide a deeper understanding of not only the Great War but also the socioeconomic changes that took place leading up to the conflict.

Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia (and everything in between)

After the Great War, the political landscape in Europe underwent significant changes. Four empires (German, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian) that had once been powerful ceased to exist, and new countries emerged from their ruins. The Balkans were no exception to these political shifts. In the following decades, Yugoslavia rose to power and became a feared but respected European nation, reaching its peak under the leadership of Marshall Josip Broz-Tito as the head of the Socialist Federative Republic.

However, Yugoslavia ultimately fell in the late 1980s and 1990s. Our tour will explore the reasons for the fall of Yugoslavia and the subsequent events, including the 1990s war in Bosnia, the Srebrenica Genocide, the Croatian Homeland War, the Kosovo War, and even the NATO bombings.

While this tumultuous period is often associated with war, it is important to also recognize the cultural, artistic, musical, agricultural, architectural, and trade developments that took place. Hear stories about the first female doctors, the emancipation of women, and artistic and musical movements, among others. It is important to remember that although there were wars, there was also prosperity in the Balkans.

All hell broke loose: The Saga of 90’s Balkan

One of the biggest mistakes made during Marshall Tito’s rule, according to a lot of historians, was his death, which led to a surge in nationalism and ultimately resulted in the Siege of Sarajevo just a few years after the Sarajevo Olympics. In this section of the tour, we will delve deeper into the atrocities that occurred in the Balkans during the 1990s, with a focus on the Bosnian War and the Srebrenica Genocide.

It is important to learn about these dark times in order to prevent the negation of genocide and ensure that perpetrators are properly prosecuted. The wounds of the war remain open, and understanding the events of the 1990s is a crucial step in the process of healing and reconciliation.

Economy and international relations of Balkan states during the middle ages

During your academic tour to Herzegovina and Dubrovnik, you will have the opportunity to learn about the medieval Vlach tribes and their impact on trade in the region. You will hear stories about the import and export business in the medieval Balkans and how the economy was shaped by these tribes. 

Present international relations

The international relations of Balkan countries are an important aspect of modern politics. Through this Balkan Study Tours, you will have the opportunity to learn about the current political affairs of the Balkan region and how these countries are interacting with the rest of the world. This includes understanding their relationships with other nations and their involvement in international organizations and events.

Additionally, you will gain insight into the foreign policy goals and priorities of these countries and how they are working to advance their interests on the global stage. Examining the international relations of the Balkans also provides a lens through which to understand the region’s history and how it has shaped its current political landscape.

The political system in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a unique political system with three presidents. This can be a confusing and complex structure, but our guides and speakers will do their best to explain how it came to be, its pros and cons, and how it may impact the future stability of both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Balkans as a region. Understanding the political system of Bosnia and Herzegovina is important for gaining insight into the country’s history and its current and future trajectory.

Nationalism and Religion

During Yugoslavia, nationalism and religion were often closely connected in the Balkan region. Many people in the region identified strongly with their ethnic and national groups, and religion was often an important aspect of that identity. For example, the majority of Serbs are Orthodox Christians, Croats are mostly Catholic, and Bosnians (Bosniaks) are Muslims.

These religious differences have often been tied to national identity and have played a role in conflicts within and between different ethnic groups in the region. Overall, nationalism and religion have been intertwined in the Balkans, and have played a significant role in the region’s history and politics. The same thing is mostly applied in today’s politics.

Socialism, Communism, Capitalism and how they work

Terms like Socialism, Communism, and Capitalism are often misused and misunderstood in contemporary society. Through this tour, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of these concepts and how they have affected the Balkans. You will have the opportunity to explore the transformation of the region from a Socialist nation to a Capitalist one, including the events that occurred and their consequences.

Another topic of discussion will be the cult of personality surrounding Tito and how his ideology shaped the country. Was he a dictator or a people’s hero? Additionally, we will delve into the socialist examples of other countries, such as the USSR, and their international relations with Yugoslavia. By examining these ideas and their implementation, you will gain a more nuanced understanding of the history and politics of the Balkans.

Post-war recovery, reconciliation, and nostalgia

The post-1990 Balkans remain in a state of disrepair and have yet to regain their former status. Many individuals who experienced life during the era of Yugoslavia continue to harbour feelings of nostalgia for that time. While the region has achieved a state of negative peace, characterized by the absence of conflict and coexistence among its inhabitants, it has not yet achieved positive peace, marked by the presence of justice and the ability to build a functional society.

This sense of longing for perceived security and improved quality of life during Yugoslavia has come to be known as “Yugo-nostalgia.” Our guide and speakers will delve into these concepts in greater detail, providing relevant examples for illustration. Politics is an important structural part of the educational tour to the Balkan.

Visit various institutions

The itinerary for this program includes visits to several sites of historical and cultural significance, such as the Jasenovac concentration camp, the Lyra Hotel i Lika (Croatia), the Technical Museum of Nikola Tesla, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the War Childhood Museum, Tito’s bunker (ARK D-0), the Memorial Complex Srebrenica, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), and the Innovation Lab. These visits will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn about and reflect upon the history and contemporary issues of the Balkans region.

Webinars and speakers

For all of our Balkan Study Tours, our speakers and guests include high school and university professors, historians, museum curators, innovators, industry specialists, “live books” (individuals who have survived a particular event and can share their personal stories), and tour guides.

The format of the webinars may be hybrid, depending on the time of year and the availability of the speakers. These individuals bring a diverse range of expertise and perspectives, providing attendees with a well-rounded understanding of the topics being discussed.

Workshops

Workshops are optional and must be scheduled in advance upon request. A variety of workshops are available, covering topics such as cooking, copper crafting, wailing, and cultural exchange. These workshops provide hands-on learning opportunities for attendees and include options such as a workshop at the War Childhood Museum and a workshop at the Innovation Lab. Up to two workshops may be included in the Balkan Academic Study Tours.

Fireside chat

The concept of a “fireside chat” is a casual conversation with one of our available speakers or guides on a topic of interest related to the Balkans, such as its history, politics, or economy. Alternatively, the conversation may cover a more specialized or niche subject. These chats provide attendees with the opportunity to engage in informal dialogue with our experts and to deepen their understanding of the region.

Living on Society’s Margin

This program component is designed for those interested in learning more about marginalized groups in the Balkans, as well as the process of women’s emancipation in the region. Given the rich history of the Balkans, the focus will be on marginalized groups from the 19th to the 21st century, including women and children (particularly unmarried women, children born outside of marriage, orphans, and prostitutes), the Jewish population, the Roma population, individuals with illness or disabilities, prisoners, and veterans.

One notable achievement in the liberation of women in the Balkans was the efforts of socialist Yugoslavia to promote the participation of Muslim women in everyday life. Study materials on these topics may be provided upon request, or attendees may choose to engage in an open discussion with one of our speakers.

Innovation

Balkan Academic Study Tours offers the opportunity to explore the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the lens of innovation and business. Lab visits and STEM speakers may be included in webinars or workshops to provide insights into these fields. Additionally, webinars on specific topics of interest can be arranged, featuring speakers who are experts in those areas.

This program component allows attendees to gain a better understanding of the role of innovation and business in shaping the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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