I. Project Short Description

The project explicitly focuses on Jewish, Muslim, and Roma minorities, who frequently experience exclusion, stigmatization, and limited opportunities. It addresses barriers arising from ethnic, religious, belief-based, gender-related, and intersectional forms of discrimination. By examining how Jews, Muslims, and Roma perceive their roles within majority societies, the project identifies key challenges as well as positive initiatives that support dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation among these three minority groups.

II. Project Partners

Charles University (main coordinator), Moses Mendelssohn Center for European-Jewish Studies at Potsdam University, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Comenius University (Bratislava), Birkbeck College – University of London

The selection of the five cities—Charles University in Prague, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Comenius University in Bratislava, Birkbeck College – the University of London in the British capital, and the Moses Mendelssohn Center for European Jewish Studies in Potsdam/Berlin—is not only indicative of the vibrant diversity of the European environment but also signifies the distinct, yet interconnected, ways in which each society’s narratives and sociocultural discourses have been co-created and influenced by their unique historical past and present.

Despite the great diversity across these countries, a common thread emerges—the impact of often unprocessed historical narratives instrumentalized for nation-building purposes, supporting the growth of nationalism, nativism, and xenophobia. Berlin/Potsdam exemplifies one of the most liberal and inclusive environments, deeply rooted in the audacity to confront its own historical narrative. Kraków’s multicultural and multi-ethnic fabric, disrupted by World War II and communist rule, is presently undergoing substantial social transformations, marked by a progressively diverse population. Bratislava, both literally and discursively positioned between West and East, featuring a notable presence of Hungarians and Roma people, offers a distinctive context for comprehending minority experiences. Prague, with its nostalgically perceived role as the cultural crossroads of Central Europe, sometimes allows for the oversight of less commendable historical legacies. London serves as a microcosm, still reflecting unresolved shadows from the fading empire.

The diverse backgrounds of the partner institutions promise a comparative perspective and a synergistic effect, where each collaborator complements the others. The sharing of varied experiences and expertise is poised to enrich the project, ensuring added value that reflects the multifaceted nature of minority studies.

III. Project Outputs and Results

1. In December 2024, Charles University hosted an international collaborative workshop in Prague entitled “In Search of Serendipity: Belonging, Inclusion and Mutual Perception of European Minorities in Heated Urban Contexts.” The workshop brought together academic round tables, keynote lectures, and practitioner engagement, with a focus on minority experiences in European urban environments, particularly in light of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia following October 7, 2023. The event facilitated interdisciplinary exchange, strengthened conceptual alignment among project partners, and enabled early dissemination of research-in-progress. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
2. In June 2025, Birkbeck, University of London hosted a collaborative workshop „Minority Inclusion and Intercultural Encounter in the UK and Europe in a Time of War“ combining closed working sessions with open panels and site visits. The programme focused on future research directions, methodological exchange, early-career researcher presentations, engagement with civil society actors, and experiential learning in urban contexts. In parallel, project partners collaborated intensively on the finalizing of a peer-reviewed special journal issue on Muslim–Jewish Relations after October 7 in Europe and Beyond, including editorial coordination, manuscript development, peer review, and publication.  PROGRAM PROGRAM DETAILS
3. A major scholarly output of the project is the publication of the peer-reviewed special journal issue Muslim–Jewish Relations after October 7 in Europe and Beyond, guest-edited by project partners. The spacial issue consolidates a project-related academic research, and ensures the international visibility and long-term sustainability of the project’s findings.
   Glöckner, O., Menachem Zoufalá, M., Dyduch, J., Skorek, A., & Crofony, T. (2025, July 25). Muslim-Jewish Relations after October 7 in Europe and Beyond. Zeitschrift für Religions- und Geistesgeschichte, 77(3), 181–301. https://brill.com/view/journals/zrgg/77/3/zrgg.77.issue-3.xml
4. In parallel, partners jointly prepared and delivered an international summer school „European Minorities in Urban Spaces: Mutual Recognition, Social Inclusion, and Sense of Belonging“ convened and hosted by the Moses Mendelssohn Center for European Jewish Studies in Potsdam in September 2025. Activities included curriculum development, coordination of teaching contributions, student selection, and the delivery of lectures, seminars, and moderated discussions. The summer school strengthened research–teaching synergies and provided transnational, interdisciplinary training for students from all partner institutions. POSTER PROGRAM
5. Upcoming: The implementation of an innovative joint curriculum entitled “Teaching on Minorities in Europe: Fostering Inclusivity, Embracing Diversity, and Cultivating Empathy” is planned for 2026–2029. The curriculum will be offered as optional courses at Charles University, Jagiellonian University, and Comenius University, with potential participation from Birkbeck, University of London and the Moses Mendelssohn Center. Courses will be available via the Charles University Moodle platform.
6. Upcoming: A four-day international summer school entitled “Heritage and Belonging: European Minorities in Local, National and Regional Perspectives” will be hosted by Jagiellonian University in Krakow from 22–26 June 2026, bringing together 20–25 students from all five partner institutions. POSTER
7. Upcoming: A cooperative international workshop will be held at Comenius University in Bratislava in January 2027.

IV. Project’s EU Support and Dedication

The transnational project EUMUS – European Minorities in Urban Spaces: Mutual Recognition, Social Inclusion and Sense of Belonging has been generously supported by the Erasmus+ Programme under Cooperative Partnerships 2024-1-CZ01-KA220-HED-000256814.