Study of the history, language, and culture of Southeastern Europe has been part of the Indiana University curriculum for Russian and East European studies since the early 1950s. In addition to area studies coursework covering the entire region, IU offers language instruction from beginning to advanced levels in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and Modern Greek. Slovenian and Albanian have also been taught at the IU Language Workshop in the last 20 years.
Byrnes Institute (REEI)-affiliated faculty that specialize in Southeastern Europe teach and conduct research in a variety of academic units: School of Education, Department of History, Institute of European Studies, Kelley School of Business, Department of Linguistics, Maurer School of Law, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Office of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, O'Neill School of Public + Environmental Affairs, School of Public Health, Department of Geology, Department of Political Science, and Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures.
Southeastern Europe at the Herman B. Wells Library
The Herman B. Wells Library holds the Albanian collection; the Slovene, Serbian, and Croatian collection; and the Romanian collection. The Albanian collection totals just over 1,000 volumes, about 700 of which are in Albanian, with the remaining in Western languages and Russian. The collection for Slovene, Serbian, and Croatian stands at 42,000 volumes. About 5,300 volumes are in Western languages or in Russian. Indiana University's Romanian collection is among the top four at university libraries in the United States, containing more than 15,000 volumes in the Romanian language. IU's Moldovan Collection is also growing and currently consists of about 1,700 titles. The IU Libraries maintain exchanges with university libraries throughout Southeast Europe. EEI also has area related films, documentaries, and other materials for loan.
Funds + Fellowships
The McCloskey Fund has enabled The Byrnes Institute to further facilitate the exchange of scholars, students, and their ideas with a connection to the Balkans. This fund commemorates the life and work of former Bloomington Mayor, Indiana Congressman, and Byrnes Institute alumnus Frank McCloskey, who dedicated himself to the advancement of peace and democracy in the Balkans. The McCloskey Fund was established in 2005 through the efforts of Frank McCloskey's late wife, Roberta, and the McCloskeys' friends and colleagues. The McCloskey Fund supports the McCloskey Fellowship Program and the annual McCloskey Forum.
The McCloskey Fellowship Program is an exchange program between the United States and countries of the former Yugoslavia for scholars and civil activists committed to ensuring peace and freedom in the Balkans. The McCloskey Fellowship is jointly administered by the National Democratic Institute and The Byrnes Institute. Since the spring of 2011, lectures honoring the memory of Frank McCloskey have featured prominent scholars, intellectuals, and policymakers focusing on the Balkans. In 2018, Indiana University hosted the first annual McCloskey Forum, which builds upon Frank McCloskey's legacy.
The Ann and David Erne Fellowship for Serbian Studies was established by Indiana University alumni Ann Jakisich Erne and David A. Erne to support the studies of an incoming graduate student enrolled in the REEI M.A. program. Natives of Serbia, persons of Serbian heritage, and persons who demonstrate a strong scholarly focus on Serbia are given special consideration in the fellowship selection process. The fellowship is awarded every other year.
Student Life, Organizations, and Associations
The Modern Greek Program is an interdisciplinary program housed in the Institute for European Studies. The program offers courses in Greek language, culture, and history to both undergraduate and graduate students. As part of its mission, the program also organize lectures, conferences, film screenings, and concerts for students, faculty, and the community.
The Byrnes Institute has hosted events with the local Eastern European Ensemble and IU International Folk Dancers, both of which feature large Southeast European repertoires and welcome IU student participants.
Information on language conversation hours are updated each semester. Visit The Byrnes Institute News + Events page (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian) or the Institute for European Studies News + Events page (Modern Greek) for the most up to date information on Southeast European language conversation hours.