VISn5013 Europe and Global Politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Petra Kuchyňková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Oldřich Krpec, 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 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.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course focuses on Europe in the context of global politics. The purpose of the course is to provide students with a theoretically based understanding of the role Europe plays in world politics.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the students will be able to assess the role of Europe as a superpower; to characterize its position in the field of human rights; to contrast unilateralism and multilateralism in relation to Europe; to interpret the position of Central Europe within transatlantic relations as well as the relationship of Europe and United States and finally to analyze the current debate of Ballistic Missile Defense in Central Europe.
Syllabus
  • Programme
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Europe as a superpower?
  • 3. Europe in Global Politics
  • 4. Europe and Energy Security
  • 5. Europe and International Human Rights
  • 6. READING WEEK
  • 7. Unilateralism versus multilateralism I.
  • 8. Unilateralism versus multilateralism II.
  • 9. Central Europe within transatlantic relations
  • 10. Europe and the United States: Different Perception of Security Threats or Differing Preferences for the Approaches towards their Resolution?
  • 11. Human Rights and development aid in EU’s foreign policy
  • 12. Europe, USA and Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)
  • 13. BMD in central Europe – current debate
  • 14. Course wrap up and evaluation of final papers
Literature
  • Europe, America, Bush : transatlantic relations in the twenty-first century. Edited by John Peterson - Mark A. Pollack. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 2003, xii, 158. ISBN 0415309433. info
  • Multilateralism and U.S. foreign policy : ambivalent engagement. Edited by Stewart Patrick - Shepard Forman. Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2002, viii, 509. ISBN 1588260186. info
  • The EU and human rights. Edited by Mara Bustelo - James Heenan - Philip Alston. 1. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999, xxiii, 946. ISBN 0-19-829809-9. info
  • RICHARDSON, Jeremy J. European Union : power and policy-making. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 1996, x, 300 s. ISBN 0-415-12916-8. info
Teaching methods
Lectures involve class discussions and require active participation. Position papers aims to improve the ability of students to summarize an issue and to evaluate it critically. Seminar papers aims to improve the ability of students to analyze issues of global politics. Readings serve to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge students acquire through the course.
Assessment methods
Course Requirements
1) Students are expected to read required readings for each seminar.
2) Active participation in class discussions.
3) Students are required to write short position papers (3600 characters, i.e. 2 pages) for every seminar; totally 11 position papers. Position papers should include a summary of main points of required readings, a critique of these readings and questions for discussion. To sum up – position papers must have three clearly identified sections:
1. Summary;
2. Critique;
3. Questions.
Position papers that do not have this structure will be rejected. Position papers should be inserted into a proper Folder in “Student Papers” (according to the date of the seminar) in IS (Information System) no later than 1 p.m. of the day before the seminar for which the position paper is written.
4) Students should submit a 10-page long (18 000 characters) final paper concenring the topic relevant to the course no later than 10th May 2008 (to a specified folder in IS). The topic of the final paper has to be consulted and confirmed by a lecturer till 10 March 2008. 5) Students have to pass final in-class written exam consisting of six questions based on required readings and discussions in class.
Grading
The final grade will be calculated as a composite evaluation of three parts:
1) 11 position papers and activity in discussions (á max. 5 points, i.e. 11 x 5 points, total 55 points);
2) Final paper (max. 25 points)
3) Final exam (6 questions x max. 5 points, total 30 points) Maximum: 110 points.
Pass: 70 points (64 %).
A 103 – 110 points
B 95 – 102 points
C 86 – 94 points
D 78 – 85 points
E 70 – 77 points
F less than 70 points
Workload
- 11 position papers
- Final paper (18 000 characters)
- Readings and discussions
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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