Area Studies: Theory and Methodology - JTM047

• Title: Area Studies: Theory and Methodology
• Czech title: Teritoriální studia: teorie a metodologie
• Guaranteed by: Department of Russian and East European Studies (23-KRVS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:0/2, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / unknown (21)
• 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
• Guarantor: doc. PhDr. Jiří Vykoukal, CSc.; PhDr. Mgr. Kryštof Přemysl Kozák, Ph.D.; Mgr. Zachary Colin Lavengood, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): PhDr. Mgr. Kryštof Přemysl Kozák, Ph.D.; Mgr. Zachary Colin Lavengood, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students
• Is pre-requisite for: JTM079, JTM049

Annotation

The course introduces Area Studies and focuses on theoretical as well as methodological approaches to the subject. The critical dichotomy between area specific knowledge and general theory will be highlighted. Practical implications of area studies research will be covered throughout the class as well.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (28.09.2024)

Aim of the course

The goal of the course is for the students to comprehend basic approaches in Area Studies including relevant theories and methodologies. The critical distinction between area studies approach and other social science disciplines shall be addressed. The students shall apply acquired knowledge to address current issues as well as to their own research projects.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (28.09.2024)

Course completion requirements

Conditions for completing the course are detailed in the syllabus section. Grading is based on the Dean's Measure no. 20/2019: https://fsv.cuni.cz/deans-measure-no-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. (28.09.2024)

Literature

Literature for this course is located in the 'files' section above and can be downloaded by the student. Reading the weekly literature is mandatory and will make up part of the final exam. List of required readings is in the syllabus section.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (28.09.2024)

Teaching methods

The course method is based on close readings of mandatory texts and subsequent class discussion of key ideas and concepts. Students are also required to have an in-class presentation relevant to the theme of the course.

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (28.09.2024)

Requirements to the exam

Each student shall have a 10 minute presentation (20% of the grade), write a paper based on the presentation or the topic of the class (30% of the grade, minimum 12 600 characters with spaces) and shall write a final exam (50% of the grade). The exam shall cover the mandatory readings and lectures from the classes. 

 Please fill in this google sheet with your name and presentation/paper topic before week 8: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wT2kHwaWXDO83GjHfH0lhSHemix1uJxiHhT4cimW0mY/edit?usp=sharing

Research paper guidelines

 

1. The topic should be tied to a specific geographic location. Relevant background information connecting knowledge from course classes should lead to a theoretically grounded research question. This question shall be answered using proper methods of inquiry.  If you want to write about other topic relevant for Area studies, contact the instructor.

2. Minimum length is 12 600 characters with spaces (approximately 7 pages double space), plus footnotes and bibliography of at least 10 titles (including relevant electronic sources).

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

   Papers should be submitted to Turnitin, the class ID is 40605992 Enrollment key: abc123 (Due to some issues between CUNI and turnitin, please wait until Week 10 to try to enroll in the course on their platform)

   DUE DATE FOR FINAL PAPER: January 30th, 2025, via Turnitin

   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

 

 Final Exam Guidelines

Specific dates for final exams will be announced in early December. Students need to sign up for the exam in the SIS system.

The final exam will cover the readings and lecture subjects from the course.

 

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).

 

Based on the Dean's Measure 20/2019: https://fsv.cuni.cz/deans-measure-no-20/2019

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (28.09.2024)

Syllabus

Week 1— Course introduction, syllabus KK/ZL 9.30.2024

Preliminary ideas about Area studies - where are we coming from? What do we want to achieve?

 

Week 2 — What is Area Studies? KK 7.10.2024

Szanton, David L., The Politics of Knowledge: Area Studies and the Disciplines, University of California Press, 2004. Introduction.

 

Week 3 — World-systems analysis and area studies ZL 14.10.2024

World-systems analysis - Immanuel Wallerstein (2013)

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

 

Week 4 – Conducting Area Studies Research 21.10.2024

Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams: The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press, 2005. (Part I, pp. 1-15, 35-72)

David E. McNabb: Research Methods for Political Science, M.E.Sharpe, New York, 2004 (pp. 13-33, 67-78).

NO CLASS 28.10.24

Week 5— Week 5: Periphery, Semi-periphery, and Core in the Modern World-system ZL 4.11.2024

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

 

Week 6 — Physical geography and Area Studies KK 11.11.2024

Ricardo Hausmann: Prisoners of Geography. Foreign Policy, January, 1999.

Daron Acemoglu, James Robinson: Why Nations Fail?, Profile Books, 2012., chapters 1, 2, 13, 14, 15.

 

 

Week 7— Current issues through Area Studies: Poverty & Development ZL 18.11.2024

A framework for understanding poverty -Benjamin Curtis and Serena Cosgrove (p.1-23)

https://api.taylorfrancis.com/content/books/mono/download?identifierName=doi&identifierValue=10.4324/9781003043829&type=googlepdf

 

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

 

Week 8 — Identity and Area Studies KK 25.11.2024

Benedict Anderson: Fictional Communities, Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, Verso, 1991, Introduction (pp.1-9)

Benedict Anderson: Fictional Communities, Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, Verso, 1991, The Origins of National Consciousness (pp. 37-47)

 

Week 9: Current Issues through Area Studies: Climate Change and Migration ZL - 2.12.2024

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

 

Week 10: Area Studies in Practice: the Case of the U.S.  KK  9.12.2024

Jorge Castaneda: America Through Foreign Eyes, Oxford University Press, 2020. Chapters 1, 9, 10

 

Please focus on how the author combines knowledge of several disciplines to make more general arguments about the U.S.

 

 

Week 11 — Student Presentations KK/ZL - 16.12.2024

 

Week 12 – Student Presentations KK/ZL - 6.1.2025

 

Last update: Kozák Kryštof Přemysl, PhDr. Mgr., Ph.D. (02.12.2024)