MVZ162 Foreign Policy of Russian Federation

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2012
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Petra Kuchyňková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Tomáš Šmíd, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, 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
Thu 10:00–11:40 U42
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 61 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/61, only registered: 0/61
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to make students acquainted with the development and key problems of the Russian foreign (and security) policy after 1991. The course deals with the following issues: development of foreign policy priorities of Boris Jelcin and Vladimir Putin administrations, evolution of Russian foreign policy and security doctrines, the impact of ideological conceptions, intellectual schools (liberalism, atlanticism, eurasianism, realism, geopolitics) and politicians in the key executive and legislative positions to the development of the Russian foreign policy after 1991. The course also aims to map most important issues of post-soviet Russian foreign policy relations: development of the Russian-American relations, the European dimension of the Russian foreign policy including relations with the former communist satellites in Europe, the Russian foreign policy within the CIS, the East Asia dimension of the Russian foreign policy. The course also covers some selected problems of the Russian foreign policy: the Russian policy in the Middle-East region and the attitude of the Russian federation to the key security, political and political-economic organizations regarding both the European and the international context (NATO, EU, WTO, Council of Europe).
Syllabus
  • 1) Course introduction - structure and requirements 2) Introduction to the Russian foreign policy research, the development of Russian foreign policy and security doctrines after 1991 3) The Russian foreign policy creation mechanics and its practical implications (the role of the executive resorts, the president, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense; the role of legislation), the security and economic dimensions of the Russian foreign policy 4) The development of the Russian-American relations 5) The Russian federation and Europe I. (post-communist states of the Central and Eastern Europe) 6) The Russian federation and Europe II. (the relations between the Russian federation and the Western Europe, Russia-EU relations, the Russian federation as a member of the Council of Europe) 7) The Russian federation as a geopolitical actor in the post-soviet area I. (the Russian- Byelorussian state body) 8) The Russian federation as a geopolitical actor in the post-soviet area II. (Ukraine and Moldavia) 9) The Russian federation as a geopolitical actor in the post-soviet area III. (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) 10) The Russian federation as a geopolitical actor in the post-soviet area IV. (Middle Asia region) 11) The East Asia dimension of the Russian foreign policy (the attempts to build strategic partnership with China and India) 12) Selected problems of the Russian foreign policy (the question of the Russian-Japanese relations, the role of the Russian federation in the Middle East region, the position of the Russian federation in the global economics) 13) Graded credit
Literature
  • Rossija i osnovnyje instituty bezopasnosti v Jevrope : Vstupaja v 21 vek. Red. Dmitrij Trenin. Moskva : Centr Karnegi ; S a R, 2000. ISBN 5-94043-001-5. s. 10-22, 23-48.
  • Danilin, I., V.: Lokal'nyje konflikty za rubežom i interesy Rossiji. Moskva : Centr političeskoj informaciji, 2003.ISBN 5-94750-024-8. s. 28 38.
  • Tsygankov, A., P. (1999): Od mezinárodního institucionalismu k revolučnímu expanzionismu: Zahraničně politická debata v současném Rusku. In: Politologický časopis, 2/1999, s. 31-47
  • Hadžijev, K. S.: Geopolitika Kavkaza. Moskva: Meždunarodnyje otnošenija, 2001. s. 280 - 328.
  • Duleba, A. - Hirman, K.: Rusko na konci Jelcinovej éry. Bratislava: IVO 1999.
  • Berman, I.: The New Battleground: Central Asia and the Caucasus. The Washongton Qurterly. Winter 2004 - 2005. p. 59 - 68.
  • Webber, M.: Russia and Europe: Conflict or Cooperation? Basingstoke: Macmillan Press 2000. s. 1-21, 28-45, 47-65, 99-124, 179-209.
  • Garthoff: The great transition: american-soviet relations and the end of the cold war. Washington: Brookings institution, 1994.
  • Smith, M., A.: Current Russo-Chinese Relations. Camberley : Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, 2003.
  • Cornell, S.: Small Nations and Great Powers. London: Curzon Press. 2003. p. 333 - 365.
  • Toward an Understanding of Russia : New European Perspectives / Edited by Janusz Bugajski and Marek Michalewski. New York : Council on Foreign Relations, 2002.ISBN 0-87609-310-1, s. 59-78; 183-209; 153-182; 97-106
Teaching methods
Lectures are accompanied with class discussions and active participation of the students. Students are obliged to submit 2 opinion essays. Their aim is to test analytical skills of the students and their ability to make a reflection of a particular topic from different points of view, to present their own opinion and to base the arguments and conclusions on relevant facts. Reading consists of compulsory and complementary literature that broadens the knowledge obtained by the students during the lectures and discussions.
Assessment methods
To pass the course successfully, student must submit 2 opinion essays to the extent of 8-10 standard pages (1 page = 1800 sings including dashes. The theme of the essays and at the same time the date of submission of the essays will be chosen by the student. The evaluation of the essays will be based upon the completion of following criteria: own reflection of the topic; analytical and factual content; formal criteria, stylistic requirements, language and resources. Active approach at the seminars and the graded test will be also taken into account. Student can get up to 30 points in the graded test and up to 10 points for each of the opinion essay; to pass, students need at least 29 points.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011.
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