The goal of the course is to examine the definitions of the Central Europe and its modern status quo. It is going to define the region and its parts. The course will further focus on the history, the consequences of political changes and the role of the states in the region (Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Baltic States) as well as other actors´ role in this region (USA, USSR, Russia, EU and NATO). It will focus on the relations between the actors in the region; regional integration attempts; how the political development in the countries influenced politics in the region; what was the position of the countries in the region on major international / global events. The last part of the course will look at the most recent developments, contemporary issues and perspectives of future development.
Literature
Last update: PhDr. Petr Just, Ph.D. (04.02.2024)
Readings (all text will be given to students via electronic reader): Barany, George. Wilsonian Central Europe: Lansing's Contribution. Historian, vol. 28, n. 2/1966, pp. 224-251. Baun, Michael. Germany and Central Europe: Hegemony Re-examined. German Politics, vol. 14, n. 3/2005, pp 371-389. Benes, Edvard. Central Europe after Ten Years. Slavonic and East European Review, vol. 7 (1928/1929), pp. 245-260. Culic, Irina. State Building and Constitution Writing in Central and Eastern Europe after 1989. Regio Yearbook, vol. 3, 2003, pp. 38-58. Flint, Colin. Introduction to Geopolitics. New York: Rutledge, 2006. Halecki, Oscar. Borderlands of Western Civilization: A History of East Central Europe. Originally published in 1952 (Ronald Press Company), renewed in 1980 (Safety Harbor: Simon Publications). Hodža, Milan. The Future of Central Europe. International Affairs, vol. 14, n. 4/1935, pp. 514-530. Janeliunas, Tomas. Redistribution of Geopolitical Power in Central and Eastern Europe. Vilnius: Lithuanian Political Science Yearbook, 2002, pp. 142-152. Kamusella, Tomasz D. I. Language as an Instrument of Nationalism in Central Europe. Nations and Nationalism, vol. 7, n. 2/2001, pp. 235-251. Kisch, Guido. Woodrow Wilson and the Independence of Small Nations in Central Europe. The Journal of Modern History, vol. 19, n. 3/1947, pp. 235-238. Lukic, Reneo. Twilight of the federations in East Central Europe and the Soviet Union. Journal of International Affairs, vol. 45, n. 2/1992, pp. 575nn. Nagayo, Susumu. Slovakia and Hungary: The Most Complicated Bilateral Relations in Central Europe (Focusing on the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Problem). Human Affairs, vol. 7, n. 1/1997, pp. 64-76. Ogg, Frederic A. Towards a Central European Harmony. Current History, vol. 40, n. 2/1934, pp. 238-242. Okey, Robin. Central Europe / Eastern Europe: Behind the Definitions. Past and Present, n. 137, November 1992, pp. 102-133. Roucek, Joseph S. (a). Geopolitics of Danubia. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, vol. 5, n. 2/1946, pp. 211-230. Roucek, Joseph S. (b). Geopolitics of the Baltic States. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, vol. 8, n. 2/1949, pp. 171-175. Roucek, Joseph S. (c). Geopolitics of the U.S.S.R. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, vol. 10, n. 2/1951, pp. 153-159. Stanczyk, Jerzy. Central Europe: Defining Criteria and Characteristics of the Region. The Polish Foreign Affairs Digest, vol. 2, n. 2/2002.
Teaching methods
Last update: PhDr. Petr Just, Ph.D. (04.02.2024)
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Requirements to the exam
Last update: PhDr. Petr Just, Ph.D. (04.02.2024)
Assignments: attendance and active participation (20 %) presentation during class (40 %) - topics of the presentation will be assigned during the first class final written test based on lectures and readings - includes both multiple choice questions and short answers (40 %)
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Grading: 100 % - 91 % = A 90 % - 81 % = B 80 % - 71 % = C 70 % - 61 % = D 60 % - 51 % = E 50 % - 0 % = F
Syllabus
Last update: PhDr. Petr Just, Ph.D. (04.02.2024)
SCHEDULE OF LECTURES - SUMMER SEMESTER 2023:
Course it taught in 6 blocks in following days: 23 February 2024, 1 March 2024, 8 March 2024, 15 March 2024, 12 April 2024 and 19 April 2024; each block is taught 8:00-9:20 + 9:30-10:50 a.m.
23 February 2024 = Introduction to the course; Creation of New Central Europe after World War I. (lecture only)
1 March 2024 = Central Europe in the Interwar Period (lecture + seminar)
8 March 2024 = Rise of the Soviet Influence in the Central Europe during and after World War II. (lecture + seminar)
15 March 2024 = Central Europe during Cold War (lecture + seminar)
12 April 2024 = Transition to Democracy in Central Europe (lecture + seminar)
19 April 2024 = Central Europe after 1990 (lecture + seminar)
