Economic Transformations in the post-Soviet Area - JTM018

• Anglický název: Economic Transformations in the post-Soviet Area
• Český název: Ekonomická transformace postsovětského prostoru
• Zajišťuje: Katedra ruských a východoevropských studií (23-KRVS)
• Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
• Platnost: od 2023
• Semestr: letní
• E-Kredity: 6
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: letní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: letní s.:1/1, Zk [HT]
• Počet míst: 16 / neurčen (16)
• Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Kompetence: critical thinking
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu; při zápisu přednost, je-li ve stud. plánu
• Garant: doc. PhDr. Slavomír Horák, Ph.D.; Mgr. Karel Svoboda, Ph.D.
• Vyučující: Mgr. Karel Svoboda, Ph.D.
• Třída: Courses for incoming students

Anotace

čeština

Od pádu brettonwoodského systému ekonomové věřili, že přístup „trh na prvním místě“ může vyřešit všechny problémy ekonomik v potížích. Zdálo se, že celý svět uznal vítězství liberálního přístupu. Postupem času se však ukázalo, že neoliberální přístup nefunguje dobře pro všechny země Společenství nezávislých států. Některé z nich přijaly odlišný přístup k řešení ekonomických problémů. Navíc světová finanční krize v roce 2008, válka Ruska proti Ukrajině a následné sankce v letech 2014 a 2022 změnily celé postsovětské ekonomické prostředí. Současný vývoj ekonomických transformací bude představovat třetí složku kurzu (po socialismu a transformacích v 90. letech).
Kurz je primárně určen pro neekonomy. Jeho hlavním cílem je poskytnout studentům pochopení politické ekonomie vývoje v postsovětském prostoru a debat týkajících se transformačního procesu. Ve srovnání s čistě ekonomickými kurzy pokrývá kurz širší oblast měnících se politicko-ekonomických systémů.
Kdy transformace začala? Jaké byly hlavní rozdíly mezi střední Evropou a postsovětským prostorem? Proč se transformace vyvinula v polofailed state na Ukrajině, autoritářský stát v Rusku nebo plnou diktaturu ve střední Asii? Jakou roli hrály počáteční podmínky? Existuje nějaký „správný“ přístup, který je univerzální pro všechny země? Proč se ekonomická věda nemůže shodnout na jediném přístupu?

Kurz je otevřen pouze pro studenty magisterských studijních programů. Studenti bakalářských proggramů, kteří si kurz zapíší, budou automaticky odhlášeni.

Kurz je vučován anglicky.

Poslední úprava: Svoboda Karel, Mgr., Ph.D. (02.02.2026)

angličtina

Since the fall of the Bretton Woods institutions, economists believed that the "market first" approach may solve all the problems of struggling economies. It seemed that the whole world acknowledged the liberal approach's victory. However, as time went on, it became obvious that the neoliberalist approach did not work well for all the countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Some of them adopted a different approach to addressing the economic problems. Furthermore, the World Financial Crisis in 2008, Russia's war against Ukraine, and subsequent sanctions in 2014 and 2022 changed the whole post-Soviet economic environment. Current developments in economic transformations will represent a third component of the course (after socialism and transformations in the 1990s).
The course is primarily aimed at non-economists. Its main purpose is to provide students with an understanding of the political economy of developments in the post-Soviet space and the debates surrounding the transformation process. Compared with purely economic science courses, the course covers a broader field of changing political-economic systems.
When did the transformation begin? What were the main differences between Central Europe and the post-Soviet space? Why did the transformation evolve to a semi-failed state in Ukraine, an authoritarian state in Russia, or full dictatorships in Central Asia? What was the role of initial conditions? Is there any "right" approach that is universal to all countries? Why can't economic science agree on one single approach?

The course is open only for students of master's degree programmes.

Poslední úprava: Hrubá Kateřina, Mgr. (28.01.2026)

Cíl předmětu

The course aims to present the political economy of economic transformations in the post-Soviet region in a way accessible to non-economists. It provides students with an overview of debates surrounding these transformations. After this course, students should be accustomed to the economic transition theories applied to the area's political situation.  Furthermore, it helps to understand the current political economy of the post-Soviet area, (de)globalization, and (de)integration.  

Poslední úprava: Svoboda Karel, Mgr., Ph.D. (26.01.2026)

Podmínky zakončení předmětu

Students must fulfill all parts of the evaluation at 50% or more. 

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.

Poslední úprava: Svoboda Karel, Mgr., Ph.D. (26.01.2026)

Literatura

The readings for each class will be available through Moodle: https://dl2.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=3966

Obligatory readings:

Myant M.; Drahokoupil J., Transition Economies: Political Economy in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010

Aslund A., How capitalism was built: the transformation of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

 

Additional:

Aslund A., Russia's capitalist revolution: why market reform succeeded and democracy failed?, Washington: Peterson Institute for International Economics, 2007.
Goldman M., The piratization of Russia : Russian reform goes awry, London : Routledge, 2003.
Aslund A., How Ukraine Became a Market Economy and Democracy, Washington: Peterson Institute for International Economics, 2008.
Konoczuk W., The failure of integration. The CIS and other international organisations in the post-Soviet area 1991-2006, OSW, Warsawa 2007.
Chubrik A. , Haiduk K., Pelipas I., Growth for All? Economy of Belarus: Challenges ahead, Minsk 2007, http://research.by/pdf/growthforall2007en.pdf.

Gevorkyan A. W., Transition Economies, Routledge 2021.
Schleifer A., Treisman D., A normal country, October 2003 (or newer).
Daniel Gros, Alfred Steinherr, Economic Transition in Central and Eastern Europe, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006).

Gelʹman, Vladimir, O. Marganii︠a︡, and Dmitriĭ Travin. 2014. Reexamining economic and political reforms in Russia, 1985-2000: generations, ideas, and changes. New York: Lexington Books.

Poslední úprava: Svoboda Karel, Mgr., Ph.D. (26.01.2026)

Metody výuky

List of presentations. The topics may be expanded based on the number of students. Note that test questions may be based on the presentations! 

20.02.2026	introduction
05.03.2026	Kosygin reforms
12.03.2026	500-day plan
19.03.2026	Krygyzstan
26.03.2026	Uzbekistan
03.04.2026	No class
10.04.2026	Boris Berezovsky
17.04.2026	Authoritative transformation
24.04.2026	banking
01.05.2026	no class
08.05.2026	No class
15.05.2026	Armenia

The course is taught in person in Jinonice B318

The classes combine lecture and seminar approaches. Students are welcome to make their remarks, ask questions, and present their views. All readings are accessible through moodle https://dl2.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=3966

Use of generative AI tools:

The use and citation of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or MS Copilot) in seminar papers and other coursework must comply with the decrees of the IMS Director No. 7/2023 and 9/2023.

Generative AI tools may be used unless explicitly prohibited by the instructor. However, they may not be used to generate substantial sections of the text or replace the student’s own intellectual contribution. The student remains fully responsible for any content generated with assistance of AI tools.

Presenting AI-generated content, whether verbatim, rephrased, or only slightly modified, as one’s own work constitutes plagiarism.

Every submitted paper must include a transparent statement specifying which generative AI tools were used, in which stage of the work they were employed, and how they were used, or confirming that no generative AI tools were used. If this statement is missing or incomplete, the instructor is not permitted to accept the paper for evaluation.

Unless the instructor explicitly prohibits the use of generative AI tools, the decision to use or not to use them rests fully with the student. The student has the right to request that the instructor does not use AI assistance for evaluating their work.

Poslední úprava: Svoboda Karel, Mgr., Ph.D. (26.01.2026)

Požadavky ke zkoušce

Requirements:  

Activity in the class

• based on assigned readings,

• meaningful participation (commentaries, questions) in a discussion following your colleagues’ presentations

Tests: test concluding each part (Socialist economy, transformation, current affairs) - multiple-choice based.  

A book review - students may select the book based on their own preference (sociology, economy, political economy etc.) 

• Please, better consult your choice, if you are not sure that it fits to the subject's topic
• The review should present the book's main argument and critically evaluate it, rather than retelling what it is about. 
• around three print pages long

 Assessment:

10% activity in the class (class reading) - ability to answer the questions and formulate own view, based on readings 

60% tests (20 percent each) - 20.3., 17.4. and 29.5. (other terms will be specified)

30% presentation - the ability to formulate the topic and present it. 

 

(A) 100 - 91%

(B) 90 - 80%

(C) 79- 70%

(D) 69-60

(E) 59-50

(F) less than 50%

 

Note on plagiarism:

Students should follow the rules of academic conduct. Any instance of plagiarism will be immediately delivered to the Disciplinary Commission for further decision. Please consult with the lecturer about any uncertainties before you submit your paper.

 

Poslední úprava: Svoboda Karel, Mgr., Ph.D. (25.03.2026)

Sylabus

	20.02.2026	introduction
	27.02.2026	no class
	06.03.2026	Command economy, its functioning. Planning and its deficiencies, Innovations, and Pricing system. Reforming of the economies. What were the systemic features of the regime, and what were the changeable features? Why did all the efforts to change the system fail?
	13.03.2026	Perestroika - reform plans. Was the fall of the Soviet Union inevitable? Was it caused only by economic affairs? What were the actual consequences and results?
	20.03.2026	post-Soviet transformation - approaches, typologies.
	27.3.2026	Gradualism
Good Friday	03.04.2026	No class - Good Friday
	10.04.2026	State capture, business capture in the post-Soviet Area
	17.04.2026	Authoritarianism in the CIS, a non-liberal model of development
	24.04.2026	Crises in the post-Soviet World. 1998. World financial crisis in the CIS.  Crisis in Russia,
	01.05.2026	no class
	08.05.2026	No Class
	15.05.2026	Economic integration in the CIS - reaction to globalization?
	22.05.2026 (ext)	State Capitalism, Economic statecraft, sanctions, etc. War economy

Poslední úprava: Svoboda Karel, Mgr., Ph.D. (02.02.2026)

Vstupní požadavky

The course is open only to students of master's degree programmes. Bachelor's degree students will be automatically deregistered. 

Poslední úprava: Svoboda Karel, Mgr., Ph.D. (02.02.2026)