What to read and watch this Winter holiday? According to good tradition, the International Studies Blog has collected tips from your lecturers.
On Wednesday 29 November 2023, a panel was held on the controversial recent book of staff member Dr Jeff Fynn Paul, called Not Stolen: The truth about European Colonialism in the New World. Already before and right after its publication, the book was met with some criticism from within the Leiden academic community, as became clear from the article submitted by an anonymous student to BAISmag* (followed by Dr. Fynn Paul’s response**) as well as the initial postponement of the panel.
While good wishes should naturally be welcomed any time, there is a long tradition to extend well wishes and good will at the end of the year. Today the ‘Happy Holidays’ wish appears most common, replacing the ‘Merry Christmas’ wish, which has a long historical pedigree in the West. Still, ‘Happy Holidays’ derives etymologically from the old English haliday, which means holy day.* In Christianity the holy days refer to the period of Advent, four Sundays leading up to Christmas day and also include Epiphany on 6 January. In a diverse and secularizing world, not only language is changing but also the wording of wishes is subject to diversification. For some, the ‘War on Christmas’ wishes can sometimes become intense.
A new introduction to Religious Studies, a first in International Studies.
On Wednesday 18 October, Prof.dr.mr. Maurits Berger, professor of Islam and the West, and Prof. dr. Sarah Cramsey, professor of Judaism and Diaspora Studies, invited International Studies students for an information session about the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza.
Since the beginning of this academic year, Ola and Lucas, have assumed their new position as Student Members of the International Studies Programme Board, which is responsible for the day to day running of International Studies. They will represent the opinions and needs of the student body in discussions on the design of the programme, the implementation of changes, and much more. Who are they and how can you get in touch? We have asked them to introduce themselves.
Dr. Sarita Koendjbiharie, lecturer at our International Studies programme, has won a Give-and-Take trophy by La Red, a network science consultancy firm. The trophy is awarded to the individuals who have the most valuable social capital and the willingness to support others with their network.
We are pleased to introduce Nathaniël Linssen (he/him), who joined the university library team in December 2022 as the Subject Librarian for International Studies, International Relations, LUC, and Law.
On Friday morning December 1st we will award the First year diplomas to those second year students who passed all their courses during the first year of their studies, and thus received the 60 curricular credits within one year.
As the deadline for choosing a region of study dwells on International Studies Students, on November 3rd, the yearly Area Fair was held. Students could walk around the Schouwburgstraat building as presentations, stands filled with snacks from the area, and workshops were being offered.
