POL350 Dynamics of political processes in East-Central Europe after 1989

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2014
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Marek Rybář, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Stanislav Balík, Ph.D.
Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Libuše Stará
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 11:30–13:00 P52
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
there are 19 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
At the end of the course the students will be able to:
Understand the main political, economic and social factors of the regime change and post-1989 regime functioning in Central and Eastern Europe.
Interpret this knowledge by theoretical and analytical tools of comparative politics.
Use and develop their own kognitive and communication skills, by, among others, understanding key concepts and theories, and by their application to empirical realities of the selected cases.
Syllabus
  • 1. Comparative Constitution-Making: Continuity or Discontinuity with the Old Regime?
  • 2. Dealing with the Past: Lustrations and their Political Consequences
  • 3. Dynamics of Intra-Executive Conflicts: Parliamentary and Semipresidential Settings
  • 4. Parliaments and Constitutional Courts: A Distant Legislative Relatives?
  • 5. Interest Representation, Political Activism and Civil Society
  • 6. Political Parties and the State: Patterns of Control
  • 7. Elections and Electoral Malpractice
  • 8. The Impact of the EU on Political Development in East-Central Europe
  • 9. Competitive Authoritarianism and Defective Democracies in East-Central Europe
Literature
    required literature
  • Birch, S. (2011) Electoral Malpractice. Oxford University Press
  • Sharon L. Wolchik and Jane L. Curry (2010) Central and East European Politics. Rowman & Littlefield
  • F. Schimmelfennig, U. Sedelmeier, The Politics of European Union Enlargement. Routledge, 2005.
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion, individual student presentations
Assessment methods
Three position papers (500 words, each up to 10% of the final grade)
In-class activity (20% of the final grade)
Short presentation (10% of the final grade)
In-class written exam (40% of the final grade)
Language of instruction
Slovak
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2014/POL350