EGOn4006 Transformation of Central and Eastern Europe

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
(! EGO406 Transformation of Europe )&&(! VISn4002 Transformation of Europe )&&!NOWANY( EGO406 Transformation of Europe , VISn4002 Transformation of Europe )
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 aim of the course is to assess the development of Central and East European democracies (i.e. the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and the Baltic countries) over the period of the last two decades. While special attention will be paid to political changes in the region after 1989, major social and economic developments will be discussed as well. Students will thus familiarize themselves with a complex set of issues that have influenced the current way of life in the studied countries. During the lectures and seminars, students will be encouraged to think about many interrelated questions, for example: How were these countries influenced by EU accession? What difficulties did they meet on their road to democracy? What are the main trends in their current political, social and economic development? Answering such a wide range of questions requires usage of analytical tools of both political science and contemporary history approaches.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to assess the relevance of the concept of Central Europe. They should understand the internal political dynamics of CEE countries and should be able to explain its periodization. Generally, students should be able to analyse the main trends of economic, social and political development in CEE and compare the different pathways of development in the studied countries.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory session – the concept of Central Europe 2. Central European political traditions 3. Transition to democracy and emerging political pluralism 4. Transformation to a market economy in the 1990s 5. Fragmentation of multinational states – Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia 6. The building of political institutions: political systems of Central and Eastern European countries 7. The Eastern Enlargement of the EU and its political implications in Central and Eastern European countries 8. “New Europeans” between stability and change 9. SEMINAR on Central and Eastern European societies 10. SEMINAR on Democratic Backsliding in Central Europe 11. SEMINAR on the domestically relevant foreign and European policy issues
Literature
    required literature
  • Central and southeast European politics since 1989. Edited by Sabrina P. Ramet - Christine Hassenstab. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019, xxi, 618. ISBN 9781108499910. info
  • Central and East European politics : from communism to democracy. Edited by Sharon L. Wolchik - Jane Leftwich Curry. Fourth edition. London: Rowman & Littlefield, 2018, xii, 570. ISBN 9781538100882. info
  • Developments in central and east european politics. Edited by Stephen White - Judy Batt - Paul G. Lewis. 1st pub. Durham: Duke University Press, 2013, xix, 312. ISBN 9780822354826. info
Teaching methods
The coursework includes lectures, seminars and oral presentations. Students will work in small groups created at the beginning of the semester. Students are expected to write three seminar papers (around 3.500 words each) for seminar lessons.
Assessment methods
The final grade consists of written exam test (40 per cent), attendance (9 per cent), and seminar papers (51 per cent)
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/EGOn4006