IRE208 Afghanistan and Regional Security Dynamics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Matyáš Zrno (lecturer), Mgr. Martin Chovančík, Ph.D. (deputy)
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
each odd Thursday 16:00–19:40 U34
Prerequisites
Course description The course provides the students with an overview of Afghan history and its geopolitical matrix since the creation of first Afghan state in 1747 up to a moment when – since 1980´s – Afghanistan played a key role in establishing an organized global Sunni Islamist jihadi movement. It will cover history, but also ethnography of Afghanistan and relations with its neighbors. The course will end with extensive coverage of NATO-led mission in Afghanistan since 2001 explaining processes behind a multinational military mission. Basic knowledge of history of International relations (especially the Cold War) is required. The main objective of the course is to understand the complex of security related issues that are connecting internal problems of Afghanistan with broader issues of international relations and world politics and with interests of global and regional powers.
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
Understand the root of conflict in Afghanistan, Be able to analyzed the current situation and understand the place of Afghanistan in the regional security complex.
Learning outcomes
The students should get acquainted with Afghanistan politics since the late 19th century up to now. After completing the course, the students should acquire a sound command of Afghanistan history the 20th and 21th century and familiar with focus on the role the wars in Afghanistan (1979-1989 and 2001 – now) played in international Islamism movement. Students should be also able to understand operation of NATO-led mission in Afghanistan to explain military terms necessary for understanding low intensity conflicts (counterinsurgency, counterterrorism etc).
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory lesson. The genesis of Afghanistan - between Persia and the Mughals 2. The Great Game Afghanistan between Russia and Britain 3. On the path of modernization. The old regime and new challenges 4. The PDPA coup and start of the war 5. Soviet invasion, US involvement and spread of global jihad 6. Soviet invasion, US involvement and spread of global jihad II 7. The retreat of US, Civil war and Rise of the Taliban. Role of Indian Pakistani rivalry. 8. Usama bin Ladin in Afghanistan, his role in global jihadi circles and US response 9. US led invasion to Afghanistan 2001, end of Taliban rule, challenges of state-bilding and the rise of new insurgency 10. US led invasion to Afghanistan 2001, end of Taliban rule, challenges of state-bilding and the rise of new insurgency II. 11. Retreat and new beginning. Afghanistan in US policy during Obama and Trump administration. 12. Future of Afghanistan in US-Iran-Pakistan-India-Russia-China knot
Literature
    required literature
  • Antonio Giustozzi: Koran Kalashnikov and Laptop: The Neo-Taliban Insurgency in Afghanistan 2002-2007. Columbia University Press. 2008
  • Alex de Waal (2010), “Dollarised,” London Review of Books, Vol. 32, n°12, June 24th 2010.
  • Ahmed Rashid: The Taliban. Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia. Yale University Press. 2000
  • Thomas Barfield Afghanistan:A Cultural and Political History
  • Barnett Rubin: The Fragmentation of Afghanistan. State Formation and Collapse in the International System. Yale University Press. 2002
  • Steve Coll: The Ghost Wars. The Secret History of CIA, Afghanistan and Bin Laden. Penguin Books. 2004
Teaching methods
Lectures, readings, discussions, writing essay.
Assessment methods
In order to receive credits, students are obliged to write an essay (passed/not passed) on a selected topic characters and achieve 80% attendance. Each student is expected to discuss via e-mail the topic of his/her essay with the main lecturer (Matyáš Zrno) by March 1 2018. In general, students are encouraged to select the topic at their will and area of interests. The deadline for the essay is May 1 2018. The recommended length is 2,500-3,000 words.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2018, Spring 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2020/IRE208