Society and Culture in Central Eurasia - JTM017

• Title: Society and Culture in Central Eurasia
• Guaranteed by: Department of Russian and East European Studies (23-KRVS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:combined
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 12 / unknown (12)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• 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: doc. PhDr. Slavomír Horák, Ph.D.; doc. Adrian Brisku, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): doc. Adrian Brisku, Ph.D.; doc. PhDr. Slavomír Horák, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students
• Incompatibility : JMMZ178

Annotation

Last update: doc. Adrian Brisku, Ph.D. (24.01.2024)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course aims to familiarize the students to often neglected issues of Central Eurasian societies and their cultures. The collapse of the Soviet communist ideology and its secular and modernising imperatives, and the processes of opening up to new opportunities or returning to repressed identities, customs and values, have changed the cultural and societal landscape of this region. Making sense of some of the key aspects these cultural and societal legacies and changes is key for understanding local politics and cultural behaviours.

Aim of the course

Last update: doc. Adrian Brisku, Ph.D. (24.01.2024)

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with some key societal and cultural issues emerging in post-Soviet Central Eurasian societies (referring to North Caucasus republics and South Caucasus and Central Asian states) and equip them with a critical understandings and the conceptual frameworks of how past and present cultural and societal legacies are mirrored in the political and cultural behaviours of these societies.

Course completion requirements

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (05.02.2024)

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.

Literature

Last update: doc. PhDr. Slavomír Horák, Ph.D. (16.04.2024)

1. Introductory Seminar (Brisku & Horák)

·       Syllabus of the course 

2. Caucasus Identities & Demographic Change after the Soviet Collapse (Brisku)

·       Coene, Fredrik, The Caucasus: An introduction (New York: Routledge, 2009), chapters 3 & 4 

·       Holland, C. E., and J. S. Wistrand, ‘Demography of the Caucasus’, in Routledge Handbook of the Caucasus, G. M. Yemelianova & L. Broers, eds, (Routledge, 2020), 375-388

3. Gender and Society in the Caucasus (Brisku)

·       Aliyeva, L. A., ‘Gender and Society in the Caucasus’, in Routledge Handbook of the Caucasus, G. M. Yemelianova & L. Broers, eds, (Routledge, 2020), 389-400.

·       Torosyan, Karine and Pignatti, Norberto, ‘Employment vs. Homestay and the Happiness of Women in the South Caucasus.’ IZA Discussion Paper No. 12888 (2020).

4.  Civil Society, New Media and Digital Activism the Caucasus (Brisku)

·       Aliyev, Huseyn, ‘Civil Society in the Caucasus: Voluntary Youth Organisations’, in Routledge Handbook of the Caucasus, G. M. Yemelianova & L. Broers, eds, (Routledge, 2020), 401-415.

·       Avedissian, Karena, ‘New Media and Digital Activism: Comparing Armenia and Chechnya’, in Routledge Handbook of the Caucasus, G. M. Yemelianova & L. Broers, eds, (Routledge, 2020), 389-401.  

5. Religion and Society in the Caucasus (Brisku)

·       Bram, Chen, Gammer, Moshe, Radical Islamism, Traditional Islam and Ethno-Nationalism in the Northern Caucasus, Middle Eastern Studies, Vol. 49, No. 2 (2013), pp. 296-337

·       Matsuzato, Kimitaka, Danielyan, Stepan, Faith or Tradition: the Armenian Apostolic Church and Community-Building in Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh, Religion, State and Society, Vol. 41, No. 1 (2013), pp. 18-34.

·       Filetti, Andrea, Religiosity in the South Caucasus: searching for an underlying logic of religion’s impact on political attitudes, Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, Vol. 14, No. 2 (2014), pp. 219-238.

6. Central Asian Identities (Horák)

- Roy, Olivier: The New Central Asia. The Creation of Nations. New York: New York University Press, 2005, p. 1-25 (Introduction) Jinonice library

- Sharipova, Dina: Perceptions of national identity in Kazakhstan: Pride, language, and religion. The Muslim World, Vol. 110, No. 1, 2020, p. 89-106.

7. Corruption within Central Eurasian Societies (Horák)

- Urinboyev, Rustamjon. "Everyday corruption and social norms in Post-Soviet Uzbekistan." Program on Governance and Local Development Working Paper 19 (2019). 

- Mambetaliev, Askarbek: Corruption in Central Asia. Master's Capstone Projects. Paper 144, 2004

8. Family and Kinship in Central Asia Societies (Horák)

· Schatz, E., Reconceptualizing clans: Kinship networks and statehood in Kazakhstan, Nationalities Papers, Vol. 33, No. 2 (2005), pp. 231-254. 

· Roche, S., A sound family for a healthy nation: motherhood in Tajik national politics and society, Nationalities Papers, Vol. 44, No. 2 (2016), pp. 207-224.

- Turaeva, Rano: Economy of favours in Central Asia: Tanish-bilish, kattalar and kichkina. Economic sociology. perspectives and conversations, Vol. 23, No. 3 (2022), pp. 10-16.

9.Women in Central Asia. Roles and Positions (guest lecture Anna Jordánová)

 - Turaeva, Rano: Women in Central Asia: Decolonizing Gender State. In: European Handbook for Central Asian Studies (Jeroen Van den Bosch - Adrien Fauve - Bruno de Cordier, eds.). Ibidem Verlag, 2021, p. 499-536.

- Ismailbekova, Aksana: Women, Kinship, and Property in Central Asia. Voices on Central Asia, 16.6.2022.

- For your entertainment

 

10. Gender, Sex and Marriages in Central Asia (Horák)

- Colette, Harris: Seductive consumption. The influence of pornography on marital sexual demands in Tajikistan, 2007.

- Cleuziou, Juliette: "What Does Marriage Stand for?” Getting Married and Divorced in Contemporary Tajikistan. Oriente Moderno, Vol. 100, No. 2 (2020), pp. 248-273.

- Trevisani, Tommaso: Modern weddings in Uzbekistan: ritual change from ‘above’ and from ‘below’. Central Asian Survey, Vol. 35, No. 1 (2016), pp. 61-75.

Facultatively:

- Kabatova, Karlygash: Purity vs. Safety: How Uyat Undermines Youth’s Sexual Literacy in Kazakhstan. In: Uyat and the Culture of Shame in Central Asia (Hélène Thibault · Jean-François Caron, eds.). Springer Nature (2022), pp. 23-41.

11. Religion and Society in Central Asia (Horák)

- Louw, Maria Elisabeth. Everyday Islam in Post-Soviet Central Asia. Routledge, 2007

- Hoelzchen, Yanti M.: Mosques as religious infrastructure: Muslim selfhood, moral imaginaries and everyday sociality. Central Asian Survey, Vol. 41, No. 2  (2022), p. 368-384.

12. Music of Uzbekistan. From politics to living rooms and vice-versa (Horák)

- Sultanova, Razia. Music and Identity in Central Asia: Introduction. Ethnomusicology Forum. Vol. 14, No. 2 (2005), pp. 131-142.

- Klenke, Kerstin, The Sound State of Uzbekistan. Popular Music and Politics in the Karimov Era. Routledge, 2019 (chapter 7 + conclusion) 

- Merchant, Tanya, Women Musicians of Uzbekistan. From Courtyard to Conservatory. University of Illionis Press, Urbana, 2015 (chapter 4). 

13. Migration and its Impact on Central Asian Societies (Horák)

- Urinboev, Rustam & Eraliev, Sherzod, The Political Economy of Non-Western Migration Regimes. Palgrave Macmillan, 2022 (chapter 5).

- Davé, Bhavna: Labour Migrant from Central Asia to Russia. In: European Handbook of Central Asian Studies (eds. Jeroen Van den Bosch, Adrien Fauve, Bruno De Cordier). Ibidem Verlag, 2021, p. 858-884 (+short case study)

Alternatively:

- Abashin, Sergei, Migration from Central Asia to Russia in the New Model of World Order. Russian Politics & Law, Vol. 52, No. 6 (2014), pp. 8-23.

Teaching methods

Last update: doc. PhDr. Slavomír Horák, Ph.D. (04.02.2024)

Applying a student-centred method, this course’s format is seminar-based which means that students’ participation in class – discussing readings’ main arguments, approaches and gaps in the literature – is essential.

The course will be taught partly in class and partly online 

 

Requirements to the exam

Last update: doc. PhDr. Slavomír Horák, Ph.D. (04.02.2024)

A.   COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1)     Attendance is mandatory as the course is designed as a seminar where substantial student participation is needed. Given the circumstances with COVID-19, the course might take place on-line via zoom.

2)     One in-class presentation related to course topics and the region studied (can be replaced by coursework based on the agreement with the lecturers). The topic of the presentation/paper should be agreed upon with the appropriate class leader (typically Adrian Brisku on the Caucasus or Slavomir Horak on Central Asia).

3)     A final oral interview based on course topics.

4)     Active class participation – 10%, presentation/course work – 40%, and final oral interview – 50%.

 

B.   COURSE EVALUATION

A - "výborně - A" - "excellent - A"
B - "výborně - B" - "excellent - B"
C - "velmi dobře - C" - "very good - C"
D - "velmi dobře - D" - "very good - D"
E - "dobře - E" - "good - E"
F - "neprospěl/a - F" - "fail - F"

Please check The Dean's Measure on Assessment No. 20/2019 for details on the Grading Scale.

 

C. NOTE ON FINAL EXAM DUE TO DEAN'S MEASURES

The final oral interview will organise as a talk/conversation based on course topics and reading assignments. Students can opt for contact or contactless/distance form (eventually, a combination of both) according to a Dean’s Measure 09/2020. As we have to include at least one more person to the exam, we encourage you to create a small group of 2 persons (not more).

In case of a contact form, the students have to follow the rules. The exact dates and times are in SIS.

In case of a distant form, we will use Zoom or eventually other means of communication agreed in advance via e-mail. Using a webcamera will be essential for the talk.

Combination of contact and contactless form is also possible (one student and one teacher sit in Pekarska, and another student/s join/s online).

Last Updated 10 December, 2020

Syllabus

Last update: doc. PhDr. Slavomír Horák, Ph.D. (16.04.2024)

COURSE SCHEDULE

(Changes are possible; please check the latest updates)

1.     Introductory Seminar (Brisku & Horák) 20.2.

2.     Caucasus Identities & Demographic Change after the Soviet Collapse (Brisku) 27.2.

3.     Gender and Society in the Caucasus (Brisku) 5.3.

4.     Civil Society, New Media and Digital Activism in the Caucasus (Brisku) 12.3.

5.     Religion and Society in the Caucasus (Brisku) 19.3

6.     Central Asian Identities (Horák, hybrid class) 26.3.

7.     Corruption within Central Eurasian Societies (Horák, hybrid class) 2.4.

8.     Family and Kinship in Central Asia Societies (Horák, hybrid class) 9.4.

9.     Women in Central Asia. Roles and Positions 16.4. (guest class, Jordánová, hybrid class)

10.   Gender and marriages in Central Asia (Horák) 23.4. (Horák, online class only)

11.  Religion and Society in Central Asia (Horák) 30.4. (Horak, online class only)

12.  Music of Uzbekistan. From politics to living rooms and vice-versa (Horák) 7.5. (Horák, online class only)

13. Migration and its Impact on Central Asian Societies (Horák) 14.5. (Horák, online class only)

Last updated 

25 March 2024