EVSb2016 Statehood, Identity and Foreign Policy in Western Balkan countries

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Vladimir Vučković, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Vladimir Vučković, 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
Timetable
Wed 12:00–13:40 U35
Prerequisites
! IRE216 Statehood in Western Balkans && !NOW( IRE216 Statehood in Western Balkans ) && ! IREb2016 Statehood in Western Balkans && !NOW( IREb2016 Statehood in Western Balkans )
The course intends to examine developments of contemporary politics in the Western Balkans, respectively in former Yugoslav states (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia). These countries have undergone deep and profound social, economic and political changes after the dissolution of former Yugoslavia followed by an armed conflict that hit the region in the 1990s. In order to understand region’s internal political processes and external foreign policy challenges, this course is intended to provide students comprehensive insights over main problems and obstacles within the Western Balkan countries that undermines smooth development of their social, economic and political systems.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 55 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 26/55, only registered: 0/55
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims to increase students’ insights with the introduction of main historical, cultural, social and political aspects of creation and development of the Western Balkan countries and it's main both internal and external obstacles which mitigate peace and stability in the region.
Learning outcomes
After passing the exam students will be able:
• to explain the establishment of internal and external policy of Socialistic Yugoslavia based on the concept of “brotherhood and unity” and “Non-Aligned Movement”;
• to critically assess reasons for the dissolution of Former Yugoslavia during the 1990s;
• master their skills in sharing an opinion(s) of current political complexity of the Western Balkan region, especially in the context of existence of internal political obstacles caused by the armed conflicts;
• rationally understand and explain the geopolitical significance of the Western Balkans for EU, Russia, China, Turkey and their intentions to increase their influence in the region as well as obtaining more insights in regards to current different foreign policy perspectives of the former Yugoslav states;
Syllabus
  • Class Schedule:
  • 1. Introduction (general introduction of course)
  • 2. Definition and characteristics of Western Balkans
  • 3. Creation of Socialistic Yugoslavia, the establishment of the socio-political concept of “brotherhood and unity” and Yugoslavia’s Foreign Policy during Tito – “Non-Aligned Movement”
  • 4. Relations between the European Community and Yugoslavia during socialism
  • 5. The collapse of Yugoslavia I – Influence of internal and external factors
  • 6. The collapse of Yugoslavia II – Emergence of new states in the post-Yugoslav space – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYROM, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia
  • 7. Reading Week
  • 8. Exposing the dominance of authoritarianism in the Balkans
  • 9. National identity matters: When the EU conditional policy hits statehood in the Western Balkans
  • 10. Europe and the (post-) Yugoslav Space: The Politics of Intervention and Integration
  • 11. Foreign Policy of post-Yugoslav states – from Non-Aligned Yugoslavia to EU and NATO
  • 12. Geopolitical significance of Balkan region I - influence of EU, Russia, China, Turkey and UAE
  • 13. Geopolitical significance of Balkan region II - influence of EU, Russia, China, Turkey and UAE
Literature
    required literature
  • Branislav Radeljić, Europe and the Collapse of Yugoslavia – The Role of Non-State Actors and European Diplomacy, London-New York, I.B. Tauris, 2012
  • Florian Bieber, The Rise of Authoritarianism in the Western Balkans, Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019.
  • Radeljić, Branislav, & Mustafa Cüneyt Özşahin, Eds. Turkey’s Return to the Western Balkans: Policies of Continuity and Transformation. Cham: Springer, 2022.
  • Bieber, Florian, & Nikolaos Tzifakis. The Western Balkans in the World: Linkages and Regulations with Non-Western Countries. London & New York, Routledge, 2020.
  • Dejan Jović, Yugoslavia: A State that Withered Away, West Lafayette, Purdue University Press, 2009
  • Soeren Keil and Berhard Stahl (ed), The Foreign Policy of Post-Yugoslav States – From Yugoslavia to Europe, ed., Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan, 2014.
Teaching methods
1) Majority of the sessions are composed of lectures and discussions. Students are requested to attend the lectures and those who have attended 60% of lectures are qualified to take a final exam. Those actively participating in discussions, raising questions, and critically commenting on issues during the lectures and/or group presentations will increase the possibility of getting better grades by getting extra points as a reward.
2) Students are expected to read all assigned readings and be prepared for lectures.
3) Students are expected to write one policy paper during the period of the course. The length of the policy paper should not exceed a number between 1.500 - 2.000 words including references.
4) During the period of the course, students are expected to take one written test – the final exam. The last exam will have two questions deeply related to issues being introduced in required readings or discussions provided during semester lectures.
5) Students who have missed class for any reason are responsible for finding out what information has been missed and are encouraged to talk to the lecturer and/or classmates.
6) All students must adhere to the MU Code of Ethics.
Assessment methods
Grading: The final grade will be calculated as a result of compulsory assessment of three parts:
1) Class participation>> total 10 points (10% active participation)
2) One policy paper>> total 40 points (40% policy paper)
3) Final exam>> total 50 points (50% final exam)
Student has to reach at least 61% of the highest defined evaluation is he/she wants to complete the course successfully. Maximum: 100 points. Pass: 61 points (61%) *Grades: A> 94 – 100 points B> 88 – 93 points C> 79 – 87 points D> 70 – 78 points E> 61 – 69 points F> 60 points and less
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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