Study program

Our study program offers a comprehensive exploration of Belgrade’s urban development tailored for international groups of activists, scholars and students. It is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the city’s evolution and the dynamic forces shaping its present and future. It involves diverse local experts and practitioners, while the formats vary from discussion tours, lectures, to interactive workshops.

The program often begins with an introductory lecture on the spatial development of Belgrade, from the Yugoslav post-war period until today, offering a broad overview of the political, social and economic forces that shaped its structure and policies. This sets the stage for more specialized discussions, such as the activist and research work of the Ministry of Space. By examining alternative urban development approaches, we reflect on the city’s progress and the impacts of our work and collaborative struggles and campaigns.

Alternatively, sessions can also be organized on particular contentious city developments, such as the Belgrade Waterfront project, tackling both the genesis of such developments and various resistances against them. These topics are often explored through detailed discussion walks, allowing participants to witness firsthand the areas and issues discussed in the lectures, as well as meet the actors of resisting movements and practices.

Urban Commons is another key theme, introduced through a lecture explaining the concept, its various readings and a presentation on self-organized spaces and prominent examples of urban commons in practice from the local context. Participants visit these spaces to see the principles of common production and governance of spatial resources in action, providing practical insights into how urban commons operate in Belgrade.

Housing issues in Belgrade are thoroughly examined through an insightful lecture on the process of coming to the present situation in housing sector (from the socialist policies, through privatization, to the present commodification and financialization), connecting global features of housing crisis to the particular local manifestations. This is complemented by an in-depth tour of New Belgrade, the paradigmatic neighborhood of socialist approach to urban planning and housing design.

Aside from the above mentioned most frequent subjects, our program can also incorporate presentations on cultural policies, visits to independent self-organized spaces, and lectures on environmental issues and deliberative democracy. This flexible structure ensures a holistic and enriching experience for participants. We have successfully collaborated with esteemed institutions such as MIT, the Royal Academy of Arts Stockholm, Oxford Brookes University, the University of Michigan, TU Berlin, and the University of Kassel, among others, providing them with a deep and nuanced understanding of Belgrade’s urban landscape.
If you are interested in our study program, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and write to us on info@ministarstvoprostora.org. We look forward to providing your group/school/University with an enriching and thought-provoking experience in Belgrade.