POL150 Slovak Politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Peter Spáč, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Stanislav Balík, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 9:45–11:15 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 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course deals with the topic of Slovak politics and its various aspects and features.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction and course organization
  • 2. Slovak politics before 1989
  • 3. 1989-1992 – From Velvet revolution to the split of the Czechoslovak Federation
  • 4. Political system of Slovakia I. – Parliament and Government
  • 5. Political system of Slovakia II. – The role of President
  • 6. Party system I.
  • 7. Party system II.
  • 8. Electoral system and its reforms
  • 9. Referendum – power of the people or a party instrument?
  • 10. Ethnic minorities and nationalism
  • 11. Dark side of Slovak politics – scandals and political corruption
  • 12. Discussion seminar
Literature
  • Haughton, T. (2001): HZDS: The Ideology, Organisation and Support Base of Slovakia's Most Successful Party. Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 53, No. 5, pp. 745-769
  • Deegan-Krause, K. – Haughton, T. (2012). The 2010 parliamentary elections in Slovakia. Electoral Studies, Vol. 31, pp. 222-242.
  • Mesežnikov, G. (2009): National Populism in Slovakia – Defining the Character of the State and Interpreting Select Historic Events. In: Petõcz, K. (ed.): National Populism and Slovak – Hungarian relations in Slovakia 2006 – 2009. Šamorín – Somorja: Forum
  • Rybář, M. (2006): Old Parties and New: Changing Patterns of Party Politics in Slovakia. In: Jungerstam-Mulders, S. (ed.): Post-Communist EU Member States: Parties and Party Systems. Burlington: Ashgate, pp. 147-176.
  • Rybář, M. (2007): The parliamentary election in Slovakia, June 2006. Electoral Studies, Vol. 26, pp. 699-702.
  • Hilde, P. S. 1999. Slovak Nationalism and the Break-Up of Czechoslovakia. Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 647-665.
  • Haughton, TJ and Szczerbiak, A and Hanley, S (2006). All Right Now? Explaining the Successes and Failures of the Slovak Centre-Right. In: Centre-Right Parties in Post-Communist East-Central Europe. Routledge, London.New York, pp. 115-132.
  • Spáč, P. - Voda, P. (2014): Slovak Extreme Right and its Support based on Local Roma Incidence. Paper presented at the ECPR General Conference in Glasgow, 2014, https://ecpr.eu/Filestore/PaperProposal/18868690-676e-48c3-9dda-700b77f4e3c1.pdf
  • RYBÁŘ, Marek and Peter SPÁČ. The March 2016 parliamentary elections in Slovakia : A political earthquake. Electoral Studies. Oxford: Elsevier, 2017, vol. 45, February, p. 153-156. ISSN 0261-3794. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2016.10.010. info
  • SPÁČ, Peter. The 2012 parliamentary elections in Slovakia. ELECTORAL STUDIES. OXFORD: ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2014, vol. 33, March, p. 343-346. ISSN 0261-3794. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2013.07.006. info
  • SPÁČ, Peter. Slovakia: In Search of Limits. In Vít Hloušek. Presidents Above Parties? Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe, Their Formal Competencies and Informal Power. 1. vyd. Brno: Muni press, 2013, p. 121-141. Monographs, No. 56. ISBN 978-80-210-6687-8. info
  • HAVLÍK, Vlastimil, Aneta PINKOVÁ, Ilze BALCERE, Blagovesta CHOLOVA, Vratislav HAVLÍK, Markéta SMRČKOVÁ, Peter SPÁČ, Kinga WOJTAS and Alenka KRAŠOVEC. Populist Political Parties in East-Central Europe. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2012, 280 pp. Monografie 49. ISBN 978-80-210-6105-7. info
  • KOPEČEK, Lubomír and Marián BELKO. Referendum in theory and practice: the history of the Slovak referendums and their consequences. on-line Středoevropské politické studie. Brno: Mezinárodní politologický ústav MU, 2003, vol. 5, 2-3, 9 pp. ISSN 1212-7817. URL info
  • BIRCH, Sarah. Embodying democracy : electoral system design in post-communist Europe. 1st pub. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2002, xiii, 241. ISBN 0333993608. info
  • A concise history of Slovakia. Edited by Elena Mannová. Bratislava: Historický ústav SAV, 2000, 353 s. ISBN 8088880424. info
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures. In the end of the course there will be a discussion seminar.
Assessment methods
Written test. Active participation may lead to additional bonus points.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Autumn 2006, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2018/POL150