CZS68 Beyond the Past-Present Linkages: Making and Breaking of Central and Southeast Europe

Pan-university studies
spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Vladimir Dordevic, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Eva Taterová, M.A., Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Marie Dobešová
Contact Person: Mgr. Marie Dobešová
Timetable
Thu 20. 2. to Thu 22. 5. Thu 11:00–12:30 KOM S117
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 5/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course is designed to give students a complex insight into the issue of making and breaking of Central and Southeast Europe, the two regions that may geographically be very close to each other but that have arguably had (quite) different historical trajectories. The course opens by addressing the concepts of both regions, continues by tackling history and politics in the 20th century of these parts of Europe thus opening the space for the discussions on totalitarian ideologies, ethnic divisions, and, among others, nationalism. The course additionally informs on the past-present links as well as new threats, such as the growing populism and Russian propaganda alike. More than that, the students taking the course shall also benefit from a field trip, providing them with an opportunity to more closely inspect and address the major issues that the course covers by comparatively tending to the regions at hand.
Syllabus
  • Program: 1- Introductory lecture (ET)- Feb 20 2- Concept of Southeast Europe: History and Politics of Southeast Europe in the 20th Century (VĐ) - Feb 27 3- Concept of Central Europe: History and Politics of Central Europe in the 20th Century (ET) - March 6 4- Field Trip (VĐ)- March 13 5- Yugoslav ‘Nation’ between Nationalism and Fascism: The Politics of Symbol (VĐ)- March 20 6- Mid-term Test (VĐ)- March 27 7- Central Europe between Stalin and Hitler: Can the Small States Survive? (ET)- April 3 8- Ethnic Diversity in the (Western) Balkans, or Revisiting the Powder Keg of Europe: Propaganda in the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s (VĐ)- April 10 9- Czecho-German Relations: From (Good) Neighbors to the Munich Betrayal, and Back (ET)- April 17 10- Past-Present Linkage II: Beyond the Democratic Deficit and Russian Propaganda in the Western Balkans, or Geopolitics as Fate (VĐ)- April 24 11- Past-Present Linkage I: Quo Vadis, Central Europe?, or Old Issues, New Circumstances (ET)- May 15 12- Final exam (ET)- May 29
Teaching methods
Readings, discussions, field trip
Assessment methods
*Mid-term exam: 30 points This exam consists of 3 open questions requiring longer answers (2-3 paragraphs on each question). The goal is to check whether students have acquired the basic knowledge in the first part of the course. The literature in the Information System and the lecture content will both be included in the exam. These readings, listed in separate folders according to the names of the lectures or their dates, will have been made available to the students one week before the start of the course. The number of pages to be read per week shall not exceed 40. *Final exam: 30 points The exam consists of 3 open questions requiring longer answers (2-3 paragraphs on each question). Students will be asked to prove that they have acquired enough knowledge about the topics covered throughout the second part of the course (from the mid-term exam on), showing that they can critically discuss the issues within both regions. *Presentation on the selected topics (to be uploaded by the students to the respective IS folder before taking place): 30 points Each presentation will be about 20min long, consisting of a short summary/background to the given topic, critical analysis of the problem at hand, and questions for the in-class discussion. The following topics/seminars may be chosen by students when presenting: a) Stalinism as a totalitarian system b) Munich 1938, or how Western Europe caved before Hitler c) Ethnic Diversity in the (Western) Balkans: Cultural richness, or a conflict-ridden past and future? d) Russian propaganda in the Balkans/Post-Yugoslav space The students are to choose a topic by applying for it at the third lecture (March 6), informing the teacher that they will be presenting on an agreed date. It is expected that the max number of students per group shall not exceed 2-3. The failure to present will significantly influence one’s score, as the student will effectively lose the points they would normally have/get by presenting to their peers. **Active participation (10 points) is expected but not required. Students are strongly recommended to go through the assigned readings before the lectures and join the discussions. This makes the lessons more interactive, allowing the students to broaden their horizons in this regard. Grading system: A: 100 – 90 % B: 89 – 80 % C: 79 – 70 % D: 69 – 65 % E: 64 – 60 % F: 59 – 0 %
Náhradní absolvování
It is not possible to take the exam while studying abroad and not being able to attend in person.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/cus/spring2025/CZS68