- Exploring a new topic together in a group, in an international setting
- Thinking theory and practice together and developing an own position in an iterative process
- Understanding solidarity-based agriculture and critically reflecting on it
- Understanding potentials of solidarity-based agriculture for overcoming environmental and social challenges
- Working with abstract concepts such as socialization and democratic economic planning
Collective forms of agriculture - Solidarity and grassroots democracy as a response to the interconnected climate and democracy crises
Collective forms of agriculture - Solidarity and grassroots democracy as a response to the interconnected climate and democracy crises
We will visit collective farming projects in Thuringia that embody the vision of an ecological and solidarity-based society in times of climate crisis and rising right-wing extremism. We will discuss their experiences against the background of theories and debates on economic democracy. We will link abstract concepts such as socialization (of land) and democratic economic planning to the practical activities and challenges of agricultural cooperatives and community-supported agriculture that we will visit. The participants will use the acquired theoretical knowledge to present the visited projects within the context of key challenges of our time. We will present our results in an analogue low-tech exhibition. The exhibition aims to inspire through the combination of radical concepts and hands-on experiences.
The course is based on an internationalist perspective that places solidarity and democratic freedom at the centre. In this sense, it is about local democratization with an internationalist vision
NOTE:
This course includes an attendance phase in Weimar from March 12 to March 21, 2026.
From Bachelor in a higher semester to a PhD candidate, preferable in one of the following fields:
geography, political science, urban and regional planning, heterodox economics, sociology, social sciences in general, urban studies, and social science orientated architecture and anthropology
Your application should be submitted until November 2nd, 2025.
Required application documents:
- Letter of Nomination (applicants financed by the BIP scholarship from the partner universities)
- CV
- Letter of motivation or a short motivation video (max. 1min)
- Portfolio
- English language certificate (test certificate or a letter from your university stating your English language knowledge)
The course fee is 300 EURO and includes:
- Orientation & Support
- Programme according to description
- Teaching materials
- Certificate
- Free use of library
The course fee does not include:
- Travel costs
- Accommodation
- Insurance
Participants, coming from the partner universites in the framework of Erasmus BIP scholarship and BUW students don't pay the course fee.
In addition to the Spring School courses, we offer a comprehensive "Service Package", which includes participation in the excursions and social programme, free entrance to the museums, shuttle-service on the day of arrilval and lunch (from Mon - Fri) in the student cafeteria. The booking of the Service Package for €70 is optional.
Students who do not take up the Service Package are automatically required to pay a course deposit of €100. This is to protect us against costs incurred by non-participation. Since in this case, the universities will not receive any funding from the European Commission. The deposit will be refunded as soon as the participants start the course in Weimar.
Please note our terms and conditions (admission conditions, cancellation conditions etc.)
3 ECTS
BUW students: please check with the academic programme coordinator for credit recognition.