IP2027: The Topic
IP2027 in Göttingen takes three “S” as its theme statement that determine the structure of world politics and domestic politics in the current decade, and probably for the rest of the millennium:
Security is an obvious part of the headline, as the world currently seems torn apart by violent conflicts. The high-profile cases like Ukraine and Iran immediately come to mind, but there are many more simmering or frozen conflicts that threaten the lives of millions of people around the world. However, for the Euroculture IP, security is a broader term that encompasses security as an all-encompassing concept, including social security and ontological security.
Sovereignty is the necessary (anti?)thesis to security. For a long time, sovereign states were thought to be the only guarantors of international security in the international system, and domestic production of material and ontological security for “their” people. However, sovereignty is eroded both from within and from the outside, and the question is whether states are really the best producers of security (or also the main culprits for insecurity).
Solidarity re-connects to the Göttingen IP theme of 2019. In 2019, we put the inequality – solidarity dichotomy to the forefront. In 2027, we will think about the relation between solidarity and security. Is solidarity a way to produce security? Or is solidarity mainly generated within smaller social groups, pitting them against each other and thereby undermining security in the broader sense?
The Concept: A RETREAT TO LET YOUR MIND WANDER (AND WONDER)
Imagine a week where deep academic work meets the calm of a retreat. Hosted in a historic setting nestled in the woods, this summer school is designed to let your mind wander as much as it works. You'll engage in rigorous paper sessions, shape the future of academia in a co-creation conference on AI, and connect with alumni on career day—but always within a setting that encourages reflection over rush. This isn't just about presenting papers; it's about stepping out of the ordinary, breathing in the fresh air, and allowing the best ideas to emerge from the space between the sessions. Come for the academic rigor, stay for the room to think.
Get inspired:
The Location: Evangelische Akademie Loccum
Following the end of Nazi rule, the churches in Germany recognised their complicity in a society characterised by dictatorship and violence. In order to face up to their responsibility for Germany’s political reorientation, the Protestant regional churches in West Germany founded church academies with socio-political programmes. The Evangelical Academy of Loccum was founded by the Evangelical-Lutheran Regional Church of Hanover in 1946.
As a church-run institute, the Academy sees its work in the service of democracy and dialogue as stemming from its Christian responsibility to promote peace and understanding within society. Through its work, the Academy also influences the Protestant Church and theology: it confronts both with the problems of social reality and supports them in giving their social and religious tasks a form that is both contemporary and appropriate.
The democratic constitutional state thrives on society exercising its capacity to shape politics, articulating its internal contradictions, communicating them, negotiating them and seeking possible solutions. This process of negotiation is not self-evident. Rather, it must be taken up anew by each generation and defended against threats. To this end, the Academy provides an open forum for all citizens, brings together interdisciplinary expertise, creates networks of stakeholders and thus drives forward sustainable solutions.
Resources
Reader:
The Euroculture IP2027 reader is a concise, curated collection of academic texts and preparatory materials that maps critical debates shaping Europe today and the intellectual agenda of the Intensive Programme 2027. In addition to a number of texts introducing the general theme, each of the three sub-themes also come with a number of curated texts to help provide participants with the necessary academic context to prepare their IP papers.
The IP reader is only available to registered students and staff of the programme.
Schedule:
The IP2027 schedule packs a week of academic panels, speakers, activities, and workshops. There are also several social events scheduled to take place for participants. Please note that the schedule can be downloaded and added to your preferred digital calendar.
The schedule is publicy available. Non-Euroculture affiliated students and teachers are free to attend the public parts of the programming.
Student Area:
The IP2027 Student Area is the centralized hub for all programme-related resources for the Intensive Programme, including the vignettes, and digital tools. Here you will find all previously disseminated materials, assessment guidelines, and the digital submission environment for papers.
The student area is only available to registered students of the Euroculture programme.
Staff Area:
The IP2027 Staff Area is the centralized hub for Euroculture staff involved with the Intensive Programme 2027, providing quick access to essential documents, schedules, contact lists, and logistical guidelines.
The staff area is only available to registered staff affiliated with the Euroculture programme.