Introduction to Area Studies - JTB112

• Title: Introduction to Area Studies
• Czech title: Úvod do teritoriálních studií
• Guaranteed by: Department of North American Studies (23-KAS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2024
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:combined
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 6 / unknown (12)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: PhDr. Mgr. Kryštof Přemysl Kozák, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): PhDr. Mgr. Kryštof Přemysl Kozák, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students
• In complex pre-requisite: JTB114, JTB115, JTB116, JTB117, JTB118, JTB119, JTB120, JTB121, JTB132, JTB133

Annotation

The course Introduction to Area studies will focus on key concepts and key texts relevant for area studies as a specific academic discipline. Basic interdisciplinary methodological approaches and discussions will be covered as well. Examples of practical research questions related to specific aspects of area studies will be provided throughout the course.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (09.02.2025)

Aim of the course

The goal of the course is for the students to comprehend basic approaches in Area Studies as an interdisciplinary academic discipline, including relevant theories and methodologies. Political implications of area studies research will be covered as well.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (09.02.2025)

Course completion requirements

According to the Dean's provision, the teacher evaluates the student's performance in the percentages assigned to grades A to F (https://fsv.cuni.cz/opatreni-dekanky-c-20/2019):

• 91% and more   => A
• 81-90%             => B
• 71-80%             => C
• 61-70%             => D
• 51-60%             => E
• 0-50%               => F

More in SMĚRNICE S_SO_002: Organizace zkouškových termínů, kontrol studia a užívání klasifikace A–F na FSV UK.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (09.02.2025)

Literature

The literature is provided for each class in the syllabus. Also check files in the SIS for additional readings.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (09.02.2025)

Teaching methods

The course is offered as a presence-only, as in-class discussion of the key texts and problems is essential for the desired educational outcomes.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (09.02.2025)

Requirements to the exam

Grading

Active participation is a necessary component for successfully completing the class. (10% of final grade)

Each student shall have one 15 minute presentation on a topic related to area studies (20% of final grade) Topic must be approved by the instructor.

Each student shall write a paper based on the presentation (30% of final grade, minimum 14 400 characters including spaces)

Final oral exam (40% of final grade). The first part shall cover key concepts for area studies from the list in SIS (10%), second part will address in-depth questions related to your presentation and paper topic (10%), third part will focus on one of the topics covered in the class (20%).

Submission of research paper & Final Exam:

Final exam due date: Sign up both in SIS and Google Docs sheet

Final paper due through Turnitin: May 30th, 2025

Class name in Turnitin is Introduction to Area Studies JTB012, ID in Turnitin is 48855212, enrollment key is "areaarea".

Research paper guidelines

 

1. The topic should be related to your presentation or the topic of the class when you had your presentation. If you want to write about other topic relevant for Area studies, contact the instructor.

2. Minimum length is 14 400 characters including spaces (not including footnotes and bibliography).

3. The paper should present a well-developed thesis, supported by evidence from primary and secondary sources.

4. It should also demonstrate an understanding of the scholarship on the topic—that is, the paper itself must incorporate in the text and notes an adequate discussion of the scholarly works on the subject.

5. For footnotes and references, follow this easy-to-use guide based on Chicago Manual of Style, https://stuter.fsv.cuni.cz/index.php/stuter/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

6. Be sure to incorporate research from scholarly journals and books, not just accidental Google searches.

7. Helpful general guidelines for writing research papers are for example at: https://www.scribbr.com/category/research-paper/

    

   What you need to do in order to succeed:

 

• think critically about a topic and the sources necessary to study and limit that topic

• combine information and ideas into a focused, organized, supported argument

• write a grammatical, stylistic, mechanically correct essay

• document and list sources accurately and usefully

 

 

 

The grading shall be as follows:

• 91% and more   =>         A
• 81-90%             =>            B
• 71-80%             =>            C
• 61-70%             =>            D
• 51-60%             =>            E
• 0-50%                =>           F

For instance, an overall result of 50.5% corresponds to the grade E (after rounding up to the full percentage).

1. Basic interpretation of A-F grading scale:

• A – excellent (outstanding performance with only minor mistakes)
• B – very good (above average performance with some mistakes)
• C – good (overall good performance with a number of notable mistakes)
• D – satisfactory (acceptable performance with significant mistakes)
• E – sufficient (performance fulfils only minimum criteria)
• F – insufficient/failed (more effort needs to be made).

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (28.05.2025)

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction 17.2. 2025

Course requirements, course program, Area Studies as a concept

No reading required yet

 

Week 2: Area Studies as a Discipline 24.2. 2025

David Szanton: The Politics of Knowledge. Area Studies and the Disciplines. University of California, 2002.

Week 3: What is an Area? 3.3. 2025

Zoran Milutinovic: The Rebirth of Area Studies: Challenges for History, Politics and International Relations in the 21st Century Introduction (Milutinovic), Chapter 3 (Kubik)

 

Week 4: Introduction to the World-system 10.3 2025

World-systems analysis - Immanuel Wallerstein (2013)

The Modern World-System as a Capitalist World Economy - Immanuel Wallerstein 2004 (Chapter 2)

Week 5: Periphery, Semi-periphery, and Core in the Modern World-system 17.3. 2025

Rise And Demise: Comparing World Systems - Christopher Chase-dunn, Thomas D Hall 79-98 (1997)

 

Week 6: Regions and Area Studies 24.3. 2025

https://europe.unc.edu/toolkits/chapter-1/ Chapters 1, 2, 5 (they're not long, don't worry)

The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations - Chapter 23 (365-382)

 

Week 7: Area studies and nationalism 31.3. 2025

Colin Flint and Peter J. Taylor: Political Geography, World-Economy, Nation-State and Locality Seventh edition, Routledge, 2018, Chapter 5.

 

Week 8: Current issues through Area Studies: War and Conflict 7.4. 2025

John Baylis et al.: The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, Oxford University Press, 2020, Chapter 14 (225-239)

Recommended (at least a trailer): 

One Year Inside Ukraine's Brutal Trenches | Frontline Marathon | Daily Mail : 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-n2WGOput_0&utm_source=chatgpt.com

War in Congo - Trapped in a spiral of violence | DW Documentary 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu3EUOeq6XM

Israel and the Palestinians, PBS Frontlines: 

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/a-year-of-war-israelis-and-palestinians/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

Week 9: 22.4.2024 14.4. 2025

Current issues through Area Studies: Poverty & Development 

The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations Chapter 26 (419-433)

The Slum - Al Jazzera Pick at least one episode to watch https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTzzdepVrNsOATf9u44nfIXH

 

21.4.2025 - NO CLASS, Easter Monday, focus on your presentations and papers

Week 10 28.4. 2025

Current issues through Area Studies: Rising China 

China and the Return of Great Power Strategic Competition? - Bruce Jones - 2020

 

Week 11 5.5. 2025

Current Issues through Area Studies: Climate Change and Migration 

The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations - Chapter 24

Report on the Impact of Climate Change on Migration - 2021 (Sections I & II)

 

Week 12: 12. 5. 2025 Presentations 

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (02.04.2025)

Entry requirements

There are no prerequisites for this course, fluency in spoken and written English is expected.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (09.02.2025)

Registration requirements

There are no prerequisites for the course, fluency in written as well spoken English is expected.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (09.02.2025)