Students:Case study methodology

Content and goals

In contrast to the e-learning modules of the ISPoS program, the Summer School concentrated on the local problems of a specific region where the huge impacts of supra-regional industries are visible. The program capitalized on the opportunities to see and experience the situation in the Ore Mountains: a Czech – German border region which suffers from (unregulated) mining industry, air pollution from lignite power plants and chemical factories, and above all bears the history of the Sudetenland with all its attached stigmas relating to the forced migration of its inhabitants. We have met local people and points of interest, explored and described the current situation and tried to find solutions through the exploration of the actor analysis method with a practical application to the local circumstances.

Problem and hypothesis

With regard to the preliminary experience with the region (preparation and realization of the Summer School 2011) we have posed a hypothesis that the source of pressing regional problems that include social, economic and environmental sphere are distorted relationships of those living in the area – dysfunctional social structure that rather provides good ground for exploitation than for living. We have had evidence from the history – expulsion of the German population and invasion of the “gold miners” caused enormous degradation of whole regions. Consequently, after the post-war period there appeared to be no ground for re-establishment of civic structures, and ideologically based regional strategy aimed at development of heavy industry base for whole communist block at any price faced no opposition. The tradition of unscrupulous exploitation is still relevant today as the place lacks points of reference for the development of new, place based relationships within community – history with its artefacts has disappeared in the mining pits and artificially “reconstructed” nature does not provide any emotional incentives that would be a basis for development of a feeling for home. (However, if we look at the region with more attentiveness, its beauty could be easily revealed.)