IRE216 Statehood, Identity and Foreign Policy in Western Balkan countries

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Vladimir Vučković, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Martin Chovančík, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 18:00–19:40 U41
Prerequisites
The course intends to examine developments of contemporary politics in the Western Balkans, respectively in former Yugoslav states (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia). These countries have undergone deep and profound social, economic and political changes after the dissolution of former Yugoslavia followed by an armed conflict that hit the region in the 1990s. In order to understand region’s internal political processes and external foreign policy challenges, this course is intended to provide students comprehensive insights over main problems and obstacles within the Western Balkan countries that undermines smooth development of their social, economic and political systems.
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 48 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/48, only registered: 0/48
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 34 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course aims to increase students’ insights with the introduction of main historical, cultural, social and political aspects of creation and development of the Western Balkan countries and it's main both internal and external obstacles which mitigate peace and stability in the region.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to understand developments of contemporary politics in the Western Balkans through obtained knowledge of unique and specific historical, cultural and political contexts of the region. In particular, after passing the exam students will be able: • to explain the establishment of internal and external policy of Socialistic Yugoslavia based on the concept of “brotherhood and unity” and “Non-Aligned Movement”; • to critically assess reasons for the dissolution of Former Yugoslavia during the 1990s; • master their skills in sharing an opinion(s) of current political complexity of the Western Balkan region, especially in the context of existence of internal political obstacles caused by the armed conflicts; • rationally understand and explain the geopolitical significance of the Western Balkans for EU, Russia, China, Turkey and their intentions to increase their influence in the region as well as obtaining more insights in regards to current different foreign policy perspectives of the former Yugoslav states;
Syllabus
  • Class Schedule:
  • 1. Introduction (general introduction of course)
  • 2. Definition and characteristics of Western Balkans
  • 3. Creation of Socialistic Yugoslavia, the establishment of the socio-political concept of “brotherhood and unity” and Yugoslavia’s Foreign Policy during Tito – “Non-Aligned Movement”
  • 4. Relations between the European Community and Yugoslavia during socialism
  • 5. The collapse of Yugoslavia I – influence of internal and external factors
  • 6. Reading Week/ Consultations
  • 7. The collapse of Yugoslavia II – Emergence of new states in the post-Yugoslav space – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYROM, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia
  • 8. National identity matters: When the EU conditional policy hits statehood in the Western Balkans
  • 9. Europe and the (post-) Yugoslav Space: The Politics of Intervention and Integration
  • 10. Foreign Policy of post-Yugoslav states – from Non-Aligned Yugoslavia to EU and NATO
  • 11. Geopolitical significance of Balkans and influence of EU, Russia, China and Turkey in region
  • 12. Final exam
Teaching methods
1) Majority of the sessions are composed of lectures and seminars. Students are asked to attend lectures and those who have attended 60% of lectures and seminars are being qualified for taking final examination. Please note that active participation is welcomed but it is not obligatory. For those actively participating in discussions, raising questions and critically commenting issues will increase the possibility of getting better grades by getting extra points as a reward. Points for activity during lectures are awarded only to active students and they will be given at end of course. Students active on more than 70% of the lessons – 10 points, those active on more than 50% – 5 points, those active between 20 – 40% – 3 points, and those active less than 10% - 1 point.
2) Students are expected to read all assigned readings and be prepared for lectures.
3) Students are expected to write one policy paper during the period of course. The length of the policy paper should not exceed a number between 1.500 - 2.000 words including references. Students are free to choose the topic of policy paper based on the subject of the course. All final policy papers should be uploaded into a proper Folder in “Policy Papers” following the session deadlines in Informational System (IS) not later than one day before session 9 is being taken. Students shall be exposed to the risk of their paper being rejected if they insert it after defined period stated above.
4) During the period of course, students are expected to take one written test – final exam. Last exam will have six questions deeply related to issues being introduced in required readings or in discussions provided during semester lectures. The final exam is about to be taken only by those students who deliver and upload policy paper into IS before exam takes place (based on each session being provided accordingly). Final exam needs to be taken by all students during the last session, and if one chooses not to take the exam, he/she will fail the course regardless of the number of credits earned from position papers or active participation within lectures.
Assessment methods
Grading: The final grade will be calculated as a result of compulsory assessment of three parts:
1) One policy paper>> total 30 points (30% position papers);
2) Class participation>> total 10 points (10% active participation)
3) Final exam>> 4 questions x max 10 points (40 points), 1 question x max 7 points (7 points), and 1 question max 3 points (3 points) = total 50 points (50% final exam)
Student has to reach at least 61% of the highest defined evaluation is he/she wants to complete the course successfully. Maximum: 90 points. Pass: 51 points (61%).*Grades: A> 84 – 90 points B> 78 – 83 points C> 69 – 77 points D> 60 – 68 points E> 51 – 59 points F> 50 points and less.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2020/IRE216