Research into Europe:
Studying Europe

Ramona Samson is presently working towards a PhD title at the Section of European Studies, Department of French, Italian, Russian, Spanish and German. The focus of her research is the role of the former socialist countries' cultures in European integration and cultural dynamics in Post-Communist Societies, with a special emphasis on Romania. Ramona Samson introduces her work and vision:

'Europe is an omnipresent phenomenon. As an academic institution with an international outlook, the Copenhagen Business School (CBS) conducts research into Europe and provides research-based education to its students. Yet, European integration is a substantial challenge to academics. Understanding and conceptualising a social phenomenon under continuous evolution entail the risk of falling into relativism. What standards should we measure against? Is the vocabulary of yesterday sufficient to grasp today's world? To avoid this risk of relativism, research into Europe must be well grounded academically. Linguistics, history, sociology and other disciplines of the humanities each has its strengths and weaknesses. They can each help us understand limited aspects of Europe. The raison d'être of European studies is that it tries to provide a holistic perspective on Europe in its broadest sense.

'At Studere Europa - Studying Europe - Étudier l'Europe', which was published in December 2003 is the first Copenhagen Working Papers in European Studies. The volume aims to provide insight into ongoing research in the Section of European Studies. The title illustrates the multifaceted nature of European Studies. Contributors were Michael Herslund, Klavs Odgaard Christensen, Frank Pondevie, Viktor Smith, and myself.

Visions about European Studies at CBS
The Section of European Studies (ES) at the Copenhagen Business School is an integrated part of the Faculty of Language, Communication and Cultural Studies. In the last decades, many European universities have developed study and research programmes in "European Studies". Each of these programmes has been conceived and has matured in different academic traditions and has thus developed its own individual profile. The platform of ES is at the intersection of the humanities and social sciences. It places special methodological emphasis on linguistic and hermeneutic approaches to the study of Europe. The diversity in our courses has the ambition to cover both the idea and complexity of Europe and cultural, historical, linguistic, economic, legal and political perspectives on present-day Europe.

My vision for ES is for it to develop into a centre built on the tradition of our faculty and the experience in the humanities and languages. "Centre for European Studies" should be a carrefour for all researchers and students at CBS with an interest in European affairs. Our multidisciplinary approach is a good starting point for bridging existing institutes and faculties. I see ES as a synergetic centre able to develop into a large and dynamic network of diverse colleagues throughout the university. And as a "market place" where stakeholders from academia, public sector and the corporate environment also from outside of CBS can meet and share ideas, knowledge and experience within the field.

'I am an idealist'
It was in post '89 Romania that I first defined myself as a researcher and academic. My university background is in culture and languages. Later, I have complemented my education with a Master degree in Advanced European and International Studies from France.

Idealism before anything made me study Europe. My own country's unfortunate experience is that solutions should never be found in national isolation. New thinking and ideas are allowed in any society and organization. In the end, it is all about making the world a better place. One does not need to be a leader to contribute.

Before starting my PhD at CBS, I was working as an Assistant Professor at 'Lucian Blaga' University in Sibiu, Romania. This experience contributed to my understanding of European studies and the special qualities which they offer. Today's Romania is struggling to find a balanced identity between pre-Communist and Communist heritage and the realities of the 21st century, including Globalisation and European integration. The professional task that me and my colleagues were faced with, was often a challenging one: to provide students with the tools to interpret complex identity issues, while remaining sensitive at the same time to the turbulent past of our region and the post-Cold War realities of European integration and Globalisation. It is exactly in handling such complexity that the interdisciplinary approach of European Studies shows its strengths.

Ramona Samson
Section of European Studies
Department of French, Italian, Russian, Spanish and German

Bonus Information

Ramona Samson (ed.): At studere Europa - Studying Europe - Etudier l'Europe. Copenhagen Business School, København, 2003, 101 p. (Copenhagen working papers in LSP, nr. 2003-08) The Language Library - Book Collection: 008 at Homepage: Ramona Samson 'Lucian Blaga' University

Last updated by Insights@CBS 18.03.2004 | Marts - 2004, nr. 1