European Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh

05/08/2026

Civic Futures: Democracy in a Changing World
What does it take for democracy to endure in an era of global pressure and rising division?
Guest Speakers: Gerardo Berthin, Freedom House & Jim Sciutto, CNN
📅Tuesday, May 12, 2026 I Doors open at 6:00 PM I Program at 7:00 PM
📍Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall (4141 5th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
➡️ Registration: tinyurl.com/civicfutures1

05/06/2026

An Italian-language production of Jitney has arrived in Pittsburgh, bringing August Wilson’s work back to the Hill District with a powerful new perspective. We’re proud to support director Renzo Carbonera and this exciting international collaboration. Photo by Laura Farneti from the article.

https://loom.ly/WfR4RP8

An Italian-language version of August Wilson's "Jitney," with an all-Black Italian cast, makes its Pittsburgh debut this week.

05/06/2026

The New East Film Symposium is back this year, featuring a series of public screenings (Posvar 1502, May 11-13: Monday to Wednesday) showcasing 6 recent films (and discussions) from Chechnya, Georgia, and Russia-in-exile (including the Oscar winner Mr. Nobody against Putin), a short by Sergei Loznitsa, and Gornostai’s latest Ukrainian film (2025). Entry is free and open to all. Our 22 guests and participants include Prof. Mark Lipovetsky (Chair, Columbia University) and prominent regional cinema expert Dr. Xenia Leontyeva. For more details: https://loom.ly/BFzgu-Q

Playscapes of the State: childhood in today's cinema of displacement Across today’s sequential crises—displacement, invasion, state extremism—the child has become cinema’s most charged image. If once a symbol of innocence and futurity, the child is now a warning flare, a sign of impending vo...

04/27/2026

Meet Neila McElfresh! 🌟 Neila is studying psychology and Irish Language while pursuing a certificate in West European Studies — proof that your academic path doesn't have to fit into a single box.

At the ESC, we love seeing students bring their unique combinations of interests to European Studies. Whether you're drawn to study abroad, specialized coursework, or research opportunities, there's a place for you here.

Curious? Hit the link in our bio to learn more about the certificate. 🔗

04/22/2026

Finals stress? World got you anxious? 🫎

Come chill with the moose. Every year, millions of people tune in to watch The Great Moose Migration (Den stora älgvandringen) — a two-week live stream of moose and their calves trekking 56km through the forests of Sweden's Ångerman River. Bears, birds, beavers, and more make appearances too.

Pitt's community is joining in! Watch from your own computer or gather with us at the Global Hub in Posvar Hall starting April 22. 🐻🦫🐦

Sometimes the best antidote to a chaotic world is watching nature do its thing — slow, steady, and utterly unbothered.

Watch here: https://m.twitch.tv/svt_slow/home

04/21/2026

New Release: From Occupation to Integration: Recivilizing the French Zone of Post-Nazi Germany, 1945–1955 by Drew Flanagan (Louisiana State University Press, 2026).

Drew Flanagan is Assistant Professor of History at University of Pittsburgh (Bradford campus).

After WWII, France occupied the Upper and Middle Rhine, and brought its colonial playbook with it. Flanagan's book reveals how French ideas about "civilization" shaped not just the occupation of defeated Germany, but the earliest blueprints for European integration. From counterinsurgency tactics imported from North Africa to cultural reeducation campaigns, French occupiers adapted their imperial toolkit for a European population. The result: a negotiated vision of "western civilization" designed to secure French leadership on the continent.

A timely intervention connecting postwar Europe's founding myths to their colonial roots, essential reading at the intersection of imperial history, European integration, and memory studies.

Out now from LSU Press. And stay tuned. Drew will be delivering a book talk this Fall!

04/20/2026

To start our ESC student spotlight series, meet one of our students: Henry Cohen! Henry gives wonderful insights on how you can get involved with the ESC program here at Pitt! Whether you want to immerse yourself in study abroad in Europe, take more classes on your interests, or find opportunities to get involved in research on Europe, Pitt's ESC welcomes all students!

04/15/2026

This unique program brings together the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) in Florence and the University of Pittsburgh's Archive of European Integration (AEI) and Barbara Sloane Collection, offering fellows specialized training in archival methods, pedagogy, and EU history.

What's included:
Up to $5,000 USD in funding
Intensive training week at the HAEU in Florence
Up to 3 weeks of research at the University of Pittsburgh
Access to specialized archival collections

Rolling travel dates: mid-May through end of July

Open to K-16 educators, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior scholars. US and non-US citizens welcome.

Project outcomes may include scholarly publications, community engagement materials, and more.

Deadline: April 30, 2026

To apply, send a 500-word research proposal, your CV, and identified archival materials to: [email protected].

Important: Consult resources of the HAEU, AEI and Barbara Sloane holding to identify the material you would like to use.

04/13/2026

HAPPENING THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 13

“When the World Must Act: Why Multilateralism Matters in Preventing Genocide,” is part of the broader ESC lecture series State of the International Legal Order: Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the DRC, Myanmar, Syria.

Held on the 75th anniversary of the Genocide Convention and the 20th anniversary of the Responsibility to Protect, this event will consider why the world continues to struggle to stop mass atrocities. Moving from Rwanda and Darfur to Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza, the roundtable will reflect on why global commitments have repeatedly failed and what might still be done in response.

The panelists will be:
Mikhail Minakov, Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History, Potsdam
Jonathan Hafetz, Seton Hall Law School
Ruth Mostern, University of Pittsburgh

The discussion will be moderated by:
Betty Cruz, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
Randall Halle, University of Pittsburgh

Thursday, April 16, 2026 (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
Alcoa Room, Barco Law Building

Registration & additional information: https://loom.ly/PZsRRPs

04/10/2026

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program 2027–28 competition is now open.

Fulbright remains one of the most prestigious international academic exchange programs, supporting faculty and experienced professionals pursuing teaching and research abroad. It offers valuable opportunities to advance international collaborations, sabbatical projects, and global curriculum development.

To help connect the Pitt community with these opportunities, UCIS and the Frederick Honors College will host a half-day Fulbright event later this year featuring:

Faculty sessions on the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
A Fulbright Showcase with stories and insights from past Pitt faculty and student participants

Faculty sessions:
9:00 a.m. – Posvar 5401
11:00 a.m. – Posvar 1501

Application deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 5:00 p.m. ET.

RSVP link: https://loom.ly/Ek4Tfqs

Additional details will be shared soon.