Annotation: The course Current Eurasia aims to discuss the current issues and development in the region of Eurasia. During the first semester (Fall 2023), the primary attention will be given to the Russian Federation, Central Asia and the Caucasus; the second semester (Spring 2024) will focus primarily on Eastern and Central Europe.
The core part will be based on debates with teachers focused on the area or expert guest lecturers participating in the discussions. Participation in the course presumes elementary familiarity with the regional background.
Poslední úprava: Jordanová Anna, Mgr. (13.09.2023)
Cíl předmětu - angličtina
Expected outcome: Students will be able to explain the current affairs in the broader inner Eurasia. Furthermore, they will familiarize themselves with a) the regional media environment b) the work of experts in the field both from academic and non-academic environments.
Poslední úprava: Jordanová Anna, Mgr. (13.09.2023)
Podmínky zakončení předmětu - angličtina
Grading is based on the Dean's Measure no. 20/2019: https://fsv.cuni.cz/deans-measure-no-20/2019. A good command of English is mandatory for participation in the course.
Poslední úprava: Lochmanová Sára, Bc. (05.10.2023)
Literatura - angličtina
Literature (recommended for your interest and the course in general): Lillis, Joanna. Dark Shadows : Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan. Tauris, 2019. Gel'man, Vladimir. The Politics of Bad Governance in Contemporary Russia. University of Michigan Press, 2022. Shoshana Keller. Russia and Central Asia: Coexistence, Conquest, Convergence. University of Toronto Press, 2019. Anders Åslund. Russia’s Crony Capitalism The Path from Market Economy to Kleptocracy, 2019. Reeves, Madeleine et al. Ethnographies of the State in Central Asia: Performing Politics. Indiana University Press 2014.
Each student is required to follow media related to his primary state or region of interest. Any type or platform (TV, radio, online) can be used. However, the outlet should be locally relevant (not global/Western media such as International Affairs or The Independent). Media to follow (with diverse political or ideological affiliations): The list is a non-exhaustive example; students are welcome to suggest their own sources. Central Asia: Kun.uz; delo.kg; 24.kg, xabar.uz, podrobno.uz, kyrtag.kg, uz24.uz, uzdaily.uz, faraj.tj, avesta.tj, Turkmen News, AsiaPlustj.info, Eurasianet.org, RFE-RL and their local branches Caucasus: Open Caucasus Media, Caucasian Knot, Agenda.ge, Aiaaira, Civil Georgia, Imedinews.ge, Turan, Yerevan Today, Regnum, Vesti.az Russia: ITAR-TASS; Sputnik News Service, Current Time, Argumenty I Fakty, Moskovskij Komsomolets, Fortanga, Tayga.Info, MediaZone
For those interested in learning about Central Asia more deeply: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aoBW3UFW86YiKYkTroW1-VOKR8xjIbb8qjMSGGqmOGw/edit
Poslední úprava: Jordanová Anna, Mgr. (28.08.2024)
Metody výuky - angličtina
The course is based on active discussion of current affairs and trends in the region, based on assigned reading and following media. External guests will be invited for the majority of lectures to provide an external insight and experience. Each lecture will consist of: a) a brief overview of the latest news from the region (based on students' media monitoring b) a presentation on the assigned topic c) a discussion with the guest lecturer
According to IMS regulations the classes take place at Jinonice building (unless new measures are introduced - see IMS website for updates). Guest researchers may join via online platforms, if necessary.
Poslední úprava: Jordanová Anna, Mgr. (13.09.2023)
33% Final interview: Conversation with each student based on the in-class topics and other assignments during the semester.
Poslední úprava: Jordanová Anna, Mgr. (28.08.2024)
Sylabus - angličtina
Note: The harmonogram may change based on the guest's availability. Suggested reading will be available at latest one week before the lecture and will reflect the latest development in the region. It is recommended to follow the readings both for the discussions in classes and for the final interview.
3.10. Introduction and organizational details. What is happening around Eurasia? Reading: N/A. No presentations.
10.10. "Great powers". What do they want? What the smaller state want? And who wants more? Temur Umarov: I would not exaggerate the scale of China’s soft power effect. CABAR Asia. Available online: https://cabar.asia/en/temur-umarov-i-would-not-exaggerate-the-scale-of-china-s-soft-power-effect Akram Umarov: How Rising Great Power Tensions Will Affect Central Asia. FPRI. Available online: https://www.fpri.org/article/2021/04/how-rising-great-power-tensions-will-affect-central-asia/ Thinking Global Podcast – Bruce Pannier and Temur Umarov. IE-R. Available online: https://www.e-ir.info/2023/08/14/thinking-global-podcast-bruce-pannier-and-temur-umarov/ Presentation1: Presentation2:
17.10. International Organizations, institutions and informal cooperation platforms around Eurasia. How important are they? The Red Line. Episode 84. Is the CSTO Facing Collapse? Available online: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/post/episode-84-is-the-csto-facing-collapse.Kassen, M. (2018). Understanding foreign policy strategies of Kazakhstan: a case study of the landlocked and transcontinental country. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 31(3–4), 314–343. https://doi.org/10.1080/09557571.2018.1520809 Costa Buranelli , F 2020 , ' Authoritarianism as an institution? The case of Central Asia ' , International Studies Quarterly , vol. 64 , no. 4 , sqaa058 , pp. 1005–1016 . https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqaa058 Presentation1: Presentation2:
24.10. NO LECTURE, NO SEMINAR
31. 10. Slavomir Horak: Georgia and its ambiguous reaction to the Russian aggression in the Ukraine Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Black sea Geopolitics. Eds. Bidzina Lebanidze. Caucasus analytical digest, no. 130, November 2022. (accessible in SIS files) Emil Avdaliani. Playing With Fire: Georgia’s Cautious Rapprochement With Russia, Carnegie, 21.07.2023. (accessible in SIS files) Alexander Atasuntsev. How Far Will the Thaw in Russia- Georgia Relations Extend? Carnegie, 19.05.2023. (accessible in SIS files) Bidzina Lebanidze & Kornely Kakachia (29 Jan 2023): Bandwagoning by stealth? Explaining Georgia’s Appeasement Policy on Russia, European Security. (accessible in SIS files) Presentation1: Presentation2:
7.11. Karel Svoboda: Russian politics and economy in the time of war Gel’man, Vladimir. Authoritarian Modernization in Post-Soviet Russia : Structures, Agencies, and Choices. In: Russian Modernization A New Paradigm. Eds. Markku Kivinen, Brendan G. Humphreys. Routledge 2021. Available: https://shorturl.at/EGX26 Putin, Vladimir. Speech and the Following Discussion at the Munich Conference on Security Policy. February 10, 2007. Available: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/24034 Presentation1: Presentation2:
14.11. The Afghan factor for Central Asia. Perspective from the neighbourhood. UMAROV, Akram — The “Afghan factor” in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy: evolution and the contemporary situation. Asian Affairs (London) 52(3), 2021 : 536-553. Meray Ozat. Afghanistan’s Canal Project Threatens Central Asian Water Security. Available online. Presentation1: Presentation2:
28.11. Unsafe continent: International repression and modernization of autocratic states Kyrgyzstan's Draft Laws Push Independent Media, Civil Society To The Edge. Majlis Podcast, October 29, 2023. Available online. OR Is Kazakhstan Preparing A Russian-Style 'Foreign Agents' Law? Majlis Podcast, October 1, 2023. Available online. [Article TBA] Presentation1: Presentation2:
05.12. Central Asia and the Russian war in Ukraine. Opportunity to whom, risk to whom? Tolipov, Farkhod. “Strategic Implications of the War in Ukraine for the Post-Soviet Space: A View from Central Asia.” Connections, vol. 14, no. 4, 2015, pp. 11–20. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26326415. Decolonizing Central Asia. Majlis podcast, August 18, 2024. Available online. Presentation1: Presentation2:
12.12. "The West" and its role in Eurasia: partnerships, conflicts, indifference. Reading: Alexander Cooley (2021): On the brink and at the world’s edge: Western approaches to Central Asia’s international politics, 1991–2021, Central Asian Survey, DOI: 10.1080/02634937.2021.1974818. EIAS. Forging Sustainable Transport Connectivity: Enhancing EU-Central Asia Transportation Through the Trans-Caspian Corridor. Available online. Presentation1: Presentation2:
19.12. Summary and the final discussion. No planned presentations.
Poslední úprava: Jordanová Anna, Mgr. (02.09.2024)
