Grundtvig - Archimedes

Workshop Reference number: 2011-1-DE2-GRU13-08097
Venue: Berlin Date of the Workshop: 05/02/2012 - 11/02/2012
EUTRA - European transitions from dictatorship to democracy in the
late 1980ies and their relevance for Europe today
Subject area: Active citizenship
European citizenship and European dimension
Learning about European countries
Working language(s): EN
Target Group + Translation:
All adult learners with interest in the transitions from dictatorship to democracy in the late 80ies are
invited. Preference will be given to applicants with a strong motivation letter and a convincing
outline of an individual follow-up activity. This activity should make use of the workshop results in
the participants´ individual community at home.
Participants are expected to have a good oral command of English. Reading and writing skills are of
secondary importance. The accommodation and workshop rooms are wheelchair accessible.
Main activities Programme + Programme translation:
The first workshop phase (3 days) offers input, discussion and reflection on the topic and asks for
the participants´ own experiences and knowledge of the political transitions. It consists of
participants´ presentations, field trips, and discussions with eyewitnesses and activists. In the
second phase (2 days) the group will play and evaluate a simulation reflecting several aspects of the
transitions. To setup of this regime change simulation is a fictitious country, to allow abstraction
from national narratives and concentration on basic elements and interest groups.
In the workshop “EUTRA – European transitions from dictatorship to democracy in the late
1980ies and their relevance for Europe today” a group of 12-15 Europeans with different
backgrounds and age will learn about the different national or regional transition processes, share
personal histories, reflect on eyewitnesses experiences and discuss consequences for Europe today.
Based on this exchange of personal knowledge and experience, we will play, test and evaluate a
regime change simulation as an educational tool to engage other Europeans with these issues. The
workshop starts by asking for the participants´ own experiences and/or knowledge of the political
transitions in each country. You are also welcome to share and illustrate your stories, perspectives
and reflections through ”objects” (pictures, newspaper clippings, etc) related to the political
transition in your country. Field trips and discussions with eyewitnesses and activists will help us to
understand the variety and diversity of the political transition processes in Europe. In the second
phase of the workshop we will play and evaluate a simulation reflecting several aspects of the
transitions. The setup of this regime change simulation is a fictitious country, which allows us to
focus on some basic elements and dominant interest groups involved in these transitions throughout
Europe. Participants will share experiences and reflect on the causes and consequences of the
regime changes in their respective country, and the strategies used by citizens and governments to
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