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European culture and society
Winter semester 2025/2026 Course description The master course European Culture and Society will introduce concepts related to the study of European culture(s) and society, with a special focus on agendas on the crossroad between culture and politics (culture and identity,cultural stereotypes, cultural cleavages, cultural policy, culture and foreign policy, cultural diplomacy, and international cultural relations in contemporary Europe). It will offer different perspectives on geographical/political and cultural definition(s) of Europe and the way how European space is seen from within and outside of Europe. Students will study and analyze different sources such as primary documents, academic journals and book chapters, visual materials and speeches. The selection of academic articles reflects different perspectives on Europe from outside and from Europe in accordance with EPS diversity principles. Course structure The course consists of three components 1) lectures centered around one of the key concepts related to culture and politics. For each session students read two set of texts – primary documents and academic articles or book chapters. The readings are obligatory and constitute a knowledge base for class discussions. 2) guest lectures that give students a more practical perspective on topics studied in lectures or examples of specific research agendas. 3) Brussels field trip - Students are also invited to facultative on site visits- group visits and individually organized visits of local cultural institutions. The course is open only for students of master's degree programmes. Poslední úprava: Hrubá Kateřina, Mgr. (28.01.2026)
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Learning objectives Having passed the course, you will ● understand major concepts related to culture and society and main factors that have shaped European culture and society from 1945-2024 ●understand the institutionnal landscape of internal and external cultural policis at both the EU level and MS level ● be familiar with major cultural cleavages that have defined the European space ● put the recent developments of European culture and society in the global perspective and develop understanding for external perspectives on Europe During the course, you will train how to ● work individually on academic book review ● work in a team to distribute tasks and workload when preparing the group presentation – policy brief ● employ relevant arguments based on your previous experience and acquired knowledge in a debate on major trends, topics and development of European culture and society Poslední úprava: Tomalová Eliška, Mgr., Ph.D. (15.09.2025)
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Requirements: Students´performance will be assessed throughout the semester. The final grade is based on three assignments: book review, group project (policy brief) and final test. 1) Book review (evaluated individually, 30 % of the grade) : 1200 words, due before 28/11/2025 (23:59) The book of your choice must be related to the course topic, it may be part of your readings for the group project or your thesis project. The book choice must be finalized before 7/11/2025 and approved by the lecturer. Book review Evaluation criteria (based on available documents on moodle)
2) Group assignment – policy brief (evaluated per group, 30 % of the grade): Students will be divided into 4 groups (before 31/10/25). Each group will upload the deliverable before 8/12/2025 (23:59) to moodle · presentation in class – 10-15 min – 11/12/25 · comments on the research process, data and materials collection, and the result per se including main findings and recommendations– 25 points · 20 min for discussion. – 5 points
3) Final test (evaluated individually, 40 % of the grade · Written test, 5 open questions (define/explain/examples…) – 8 points/answer · 18/12/2025, in class. Questions are based on obligatory readings and courses related to the following concepts: culture, cultural diplomacy and cultural policy, soft power, cultural diversity, cultural identity
Course evaluation:
A - "výborně - A" - "excellent - A" Poslední úprava: Tomalová Eliška, Mgr., Ph.D. (15.09.2025)
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Academic articles and book chapters for each session will be disponible on moodle. Students will use primary and secondary sources. Poslední úprava: Tomalová Eliška, Mgr., Ph.D. (21.09.2023)
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Course programme: 2/10 Introduction Course structure and objectives, deadlines, assignments (book review, policy brief, presentation, final test), group distribution information
9/10 Two sessions: 11:00-12:20 (1) and 12:30-13:30 (2) Topic 1: European Culture(s) and Society(societes)
What is culture? Europe as cultural entity? Different perspectives on culture. Why culture matters as public policy and diplomatic agenda? European culture and cultures. Cultural map of Europe. Main factors and cleavages that have shaped European culture and society from 1945 until now. Topic 2: Cultural policy Who are the actors of the cultural systém? Does the EU have a cultural policy? Reading 1: Shore, C., In Uno Plures? EU cultural policy and the governance of Europe, Cultural Analysis 5, 2006. Reading 2: TFEU, articles relative to culture.
16/10 Two sessions: 11:00-12:20 (1) and 12:30-13:30 (2) Topic 1: Cultural diplomacy versus international cultural relations: How is European Society represented in external action? Defining cultural diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations. Innovative methods in cultural diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy, image and status building, nation branding strategies. Local, regional and international actors in cultural diplomacy. Reading 1: Kos-Stanišič, Lidija, Car, Viktorija: The Use of Soft Power in Digital Public Diplomacy: the Cases of Brazil and India in the EU, Croatian Political Science Review, 2021. Reading 2: Higgott, Richard, Lamonica, Alessandro Giovanni, The role of Culture in EU Foreign Policy: Between International Cultural Relations and Cultural Diplomacy, Okonomi & Politik, 2021.
23/10 Guest lecture: Václav Šmidrkal, FSV UK Central Europe: Genealogy of Region and Culture One session 11:00-12:20
30/10 Work in groups – no lecture
6/11 Two sessions: 11:00-12:20 (1) and 12:30-13:30 (2) Topic 1: Culture and power in international affairs: Soft power and its projection Power and its elements. Hard power, soft power and smart power. Soft power tools and instruments. European soft power and the role of culture. Societal links across boundaries. Reading 1: Gahler, Michael: Boosting the EU´s Soft Power in Eastern Partnership Countries, European View, 2021. Reading 2: Biersteker, Thomas: The Potential of Europe´s Sharp and Soft Power, Global Policy, 2020.
13/11 Two sessions: 11:00-12:20 (1) and 12:30-13:30 (2) Topic 1: Cultural diversity in European society Different perspectives on diversity in European society/societies. Roots of the debate on cultural diversity. Cultural diversity and cultural exception. International cultural organizations and the “European approach” to international cultural affairs. Reading 1: Pyykkonen, Miikka: UNESCO and Cultural Diversity: Democratisation, Commodification or Governmentalisation of Culture? International Journal of Cultural Policy, 2021. Reading 2 The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, UNESCO, 2005
20/11 Guest lecture: Maxine David, Leiden University One session followed by info meeting with students going to Leiden in the second semester 27/11 Guest lecture: Irena Kalhousová, Herzl Center, Charles University: Jewish community and Central European culture One session 11:00-12:20 4/12 Guest lecture: Baldur Thorhallsson, University of Iceland Sheltered by Europe: How the EU and Nordic States Provide Societal Shelter to Iceland One session 11:00-12:20 Reading: Thorhalsson, B. (ed.), Small states and Shelter theory, chapters 2 (A Theory of Shelter), 4 (Nordic Cooperation and Shelter Implications), 5 ( European Integration: Genuine or False Shelter), Routledge, 2019.
11/12 Group presentations – 2 sessions 11:00-13:50 18/12 Final test in class (60 min) Poslední úprava: Tomalová Eliška, Mgr., Ph.D. (02.10.2025)
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