EVS404 European Security and Defence Concepts

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 14 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Markéta Pitrová, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Wed 16:00–17:40 P24
Prerequisites (in Czech)
Schopnost číst v anglickém jazyce.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course deals with the reaction of European powers to the gradual loss of influence in the system of international relations in the context of a bipolar and postbipolar world. After the first part of the course, students will be able to analyze the causes of loss of influence of European powers on the world events in the 20th century (particularly the weakening of European countries in two global conflicts, which were raised by their foreign policies). After the subsequent part, they will be able to distinguish various national approaches to providing security from 1945 to the present. After the last part of the course, students will be able to characterize and evaluate the role of international security organizations relevant to European countries.
Objectives of the course in regard to student abilities are as follows: acquisition of the empirical bases related to the foreign and security policy of European powers, definition of the main differences in their foreign and security policy in the 20th century, discussion of the main causes of the power decline of European countries, understanding of the main trends of the current foreign and security policy of European powers, understanding of the trends in the European integration process in the security sector.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the course and the readings, assignment of position papers.
  • 2. Influence of the World War I to the power positions of European countries.
  • 3. Development of European power politics in the interwar period.
  • 4. Power suicide of European countries - the political implications of the World War II.
  • 5. Discussion to the position paper No. 1.
  • 6. The French foreign and security policy in the Cold War era and after its end - the concept of semi-power politics.
  • 7. The British foreign and security policy in the Cold War era and after its end - the concept of a special partnership with the U.S.
  • 8. Emancipation of Germany in the Cold War era and its policy of a civilian power - the concept of a civilian power.
  • 9. Discussion to the position paper No. 2.
  • 10. The importance of the OSCE for the provision of European security - an attempt to cooperative and collective security.
  • 11. NATO and the WEU, the building of a security and defense dimension of the European integration process - the concept of collective defense.
  • 12. Discussion to the position paper No. 3.
  • 13. The presentation of the remaining presentations.
Literature
  • MÜLLER, Helmut, Karel Friedrich KRIEGER, Hanna VOLLRATH and Ivona ŘEZANKOVÁ. Dějiny Německa. Translated by František Kubů. 2. dopl. vyd. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2004, 609 s. ISBN 80-7106-188-3. info
  • DUMBRELL, John. A special relationship :anglo-american relations in the cold war and after. 1st pub. Basingstoke: Macmillan Press, 2001, vii, 258 s. ISBN 0-333-62250-2. info
  • NÁLEVKA, Vladimír. Světová politika ve 20. století. Vyd. 1. Praha: Aleš Skřivan ml., 2000, 287 s. ISBN 80-902261-6-7. info
  • NÁLEVKA, Vladimír. Světová politika ve 20. století. Vyd. 1. Praha: Aleš Skřivan ml., 2000, 271 s. ISBN 80-902261-4-0. info
  • NÁLEVKA, Vladimír. Kapitoly z dějin studené války. Praha: Institut pro středoevropskou kulturu a politiku, 1997, 146 s. ISBN 80-86130-00-2. info
  • KISSINGER, Henry. Umění diplomacie :od Richelieua k pádu Berlínské zdi. 2., opr. vyd. Praha: Prostor, 1997, 946 s. ISBN 80-85190-59-1. info
  • EICHLER, Jan. Francouzská armáda od de Gaulla k Mitterrandovi. Vyd. 1. Praha: Naše vojsko, 1990, 153 s. ISBN 8020600701. info
Teaching methods
The course is taught as a combination of lectures and seminars. Active participation of students is expected. Position papers serve to improve the ability of students to summarize an issue in the field of European security and defence concepts and to evaluate it critically. Presentations serve to improve presentation skills of students. The purpose of the readings is to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge students acquire during lectures.
Assessment methods
Compulsory course – A, completed with an examination. The course is completed with a written test. During the course, students will prepare three position papers to the given compulsory literature and one presentation. The written test will contain 30 questions per one point, the desired success rate is 60 %. The test will include lectures, literature to the position papers and compulsory literature.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008, Spring 2009.
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