MVZb2006 Defusing the "Powder Keg": Dissolution of Yugoslavia and International Intervention

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Vladimir Dordevic, 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
Mon 18:00–19:40 U42
Prerequisites
! MVZ206 Dissolution of Yugoslavia && !NOW( MVZ206 Dissolution of Yugoslavia )
This course is intended to provide comprehensive information on dissolution of the joint Yugoslav state and the international intervention that followed. In that respect, the course is to instruct students into: 1- Historical legacy of the Yugoslav state, its features, and functioning; 2- Factors, domestic and international equally, that contributed to the dissolution of the said state; 3- International intervention from 1991 to the Kosovo conflict of 1999, and its main characteristics; 4- Political, economic, social realities, perspectives and trends in all Yugoslav successor states from 1989 to present times, and lastly 5- International perspective in terms of the Euro-Atlantic integration of the said states.
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: 10/40, only registered: 0/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 43 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Students attending the course will gain knowledge in historical development of the joint Yugoslav state, its main features, as well as major obstacles and issues in its functioning. Students will also be instructed in factors, domestic and international equally, that contributed to the dissolution of Yugoslavia and sparked the consequent wars of succession. Furthermore, the course is designed to provide comprehensive information and assessment of the international intervention, but also focuses on changes that occurred after the intervention was concluded. In that respect, domestic politics of all Yugoslav successor states will be examined as they developed from the dissolution of the joint state to present times. Last but not least, international perspective of the Euro-Atlantic integration process will also be analyzed to present a more exact picture of the ex-Yugoslav space over the period of more than two decades.
Learning outcomes
Students attending the course will gain knowledge in historical development of the joint Yugoslav state, its main features, as well as major obstacles and issues in its functioning. Students will also be instructed in factors, domestic and international equally, that contributed to the dissolution of Yugoslavia and sparked the consequent wars of succession.
Syllabus
  • Program: 1- Introduction (general info on the course) 2- Yugoslavia as History I: Yugoslavism as an Idea/ First Yugoslavia (1918-1941) Required readings: - Djokić, Dejan and Ker-Lindsay, James (ed.) (2011). New Perspectives on Yugoslavia: Key Issues and Controversies. Oxon: Routledge Chapters 1, 3, and 4, pp. 10-26, and 46-81. Optional readings: - Djokić, Dejan (ed.) (2003). Yugoslavism: Histories of a Failed Idea, 1918-1992. London: C. Hurst and Co. Publishers *Introduction, pp. 11-27; Part I, pp. 136-157. 3- Yugoslavia as History II: Yugoslav Communism/ Socialist Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1980 Required readings: - Benson, Leslie (2004). Yugoslavia: A Concise History. Hampshire and New York: Palgrave Macmillan *Chapters 6 and 7, pp. 94-132. 4- Yugoslav Crisis I: Political Disintegration of the 1980s Required readings: - Benson, Leslie (2004). Yugoslavia: A Concise History. Hampshire and New York: Palgrave Macmillan *Chapter 8, pp. 132-155. 5- Yugoslav Crisis II: Economic and Social Downfall of the 1980s/ Assessing Different Approaches to Yugoslav Collapse Required readings: - Jović, Dejan (2009). Yugoslavia: A State that Withered Away. West Lafayette: Purdue University Press *Chapters 1 and 4, pp. 13-33 and 141-171. 6- International Intervention I (1991 --- mid-1992): The End of the Cold War and of Yugoslavia/ Diplomatic Initiative of the EC/ Carrington-Cutileiro Plan Required readings: - Gow, James (1997). Triumph of Lack of Will: International Diplomacy and the Yugoslav War. London: C. Hurst and Co. Publishers *Chapters 2, 3 and 4, pp. 20-99. Optional readings: - Weller, Marc (1992). “International Response to the Dissolution of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,” The American Journal of International Law, Vol. 86, No. 3, pp. 569-607. - Simms, Brendan (2001). Unfinest Hour: Britain and the Destruction of Bosnia. London: Penguin Books *Chapter 2, pp. 49-90. *- Most comprehensive account of military campaigns in the Yugoslav wars is provided in: CIA (2002). Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990-1995. Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency, Office for Russian and European Analysis 7- International Intervention II (mid-1992 --- mid-1993): US Policy from Bush to Clinton/ London Peace Conference/ ‘Safe Areas’ and Death of Vance-Owen Plan Required readings: - Gow, James (1997). Triumph of Lack of Will: International Diplomacy and the Yugoslav War. London: C. Hurst and Co. Publishers *Chapters 8 and 9, pp. 208-253. Optional readings: - Simms, Brendan (2001). Unfinest Hour: Britain and the Destruction of Bosnia. London: Penguin Books *Chapter 4, pp. 135-173. 8- International Intervention III (mid-1993 --- 1995): American ‘U-Turn’/ Contact Group Plan/ The Dayton Peace Agreement Required readings: - Gow, James (1997). Triumph of Lack of Will: International Diplomacy and the Yugoslav War. London: C. Hurst and Co. Publishers *Chapters 9 and 10, pp. 253-298. Optional readings: - Holbrooke, Richard (1998). To End a War. New York: Random House *Book III: Dayton, pp. 231-315. 9- International Intervention IV: Assessments/ Role of the International Community revisited Required readings: - Gow, James (1997). Triumph of Lack of Will: International Diplomacy and the Yugoslav War. London: C. Hurst and Co. Publishers *Chapter 11, pp. 315-331. Optional readings: -Ullman, Richard, H. (ed.) (1996). The World and Yugoslavia’s Wars. New York: Council on Foreign Relations *Chapters 5 and 6, pp. 122- 182. - Magas, Branka and Zanic, Ivo (ed.) (2001). The War in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1991-1995. London: Frank Cass Publishers *Chapters 10 and 11, pp. 271-305. - Simms, Brendan (2001). Unfinest Hour: Britain and the Destruction of Bosnia. London: Penguin Books *Chapter 8, pp. 314-351. 10- The ‘Final’ Yugoslav issue: Kosovo between Serbs and Albanians/ Operation ‘Allied Force’/ Evolution of International Thinking on Kosovo Required readings: - Mertus, Julie A. (2009). “Operation Allied Force: Handmaiden of Independent Kosovo,” International Affairs 85 (3), pp. 461-476. - Hehir, Aidan (ed.) (2010). Kosovo, Intervention and Statebuilding: The International Community and the Transition to Independence. Oxon: Routledge *Chapter 10, pp. 185-197. - Gvosdev, Nikolas K. (2013). “Kosovo and Serbia Make a Deal: Debalkanizing the Balkans.” Foreign Affairs, April edition, pp. 1-3. - Đorđević, Malazogu, Nič, and Ejdus (2014). “Mogherini’s Chance for True Rapprochement between Serbia and Kosovo.” CEPI Policy Brief, pp. 1-5. Optional readings: - Judah, Tim (2000). Kosovo: War and Revenge. New Haven and London: Yale University Press *Chapters 1 and 2, pp. 1-61. 11- Yugoslav Successor States I: Slovenia/ Croatia/ FRY (Serbia-Montenegro) Required readings: - Ramet, Sabrina, P. (ed.) (2010). Central and Southeast European Politics since 1989. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press *Chapters 11-13, pp. 235-311. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxM4MWAeaHE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y5e3fIl4hI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz5NuBo076g 12- Yugoslav Successor States II: BiH/ The Republic of North Macedonia/ Kosovo(a) Required readings: - Ramet, Sabrina, P. (ed.) (2010). Central and Southeast European Politics since 1989. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press *Chapters 13- 16, pp. 311-377. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=806v-1XRHZ8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niOKNAUUVhQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv6g_0hdsPA 13- International Perspective: Prospects of the Euro-Atlantic Integrations/ Regional Overview/ *Course wrap-up (conclusions and final remarks) Required readings: - Bieber, Florian (2016). “Ever Farther Union: Balkans and the Brexit,” Freedom House Brief, pp. 1-4. - Milan, Nič (2013). “The EU’s Role in the Western Balkans after Croatian Accession,” Policy Brief by CEPI, Centre for European Studies, and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, pp. 1-3. - United States Congress, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats Hearing: “Progress and Challenges in the Western Balkans,” Testimony by Ivan Vejvoda, 2015, pp. 1-8.
Literature
    required literature
  • Materials as given in the syllabus and provided in the IS
Teaching methods
Course Requirements: 1) Students are required to meet the minimum of 60% course attendance. Failing to meet this requirement shall result in course failure. 2) Students are expected to read all Required readings and it will be assumed that students have read them (approx. 41 pages per week). Optional readings are not compulsory (and also not added to certain seminars) for successful completion of the course, but are listed as important sources of additional information on topics at hand, thus those students interested in further explorations of respective topics may consult these readings. The first seminar has no readings assigned. 3) Students are required to contribute to the class by applying for presentation groups. Depending on the number of students, there will be 6 seminar groups on topics related to the course materials. Students shall prepare these to present to the class after agreeing with the lecturer on the topic and date of presentation. The presentations shall be 20-25min long, are compulsory for all students, and shall be uploaded into the 4) Final online exam shall be taken by all students at the end of the course, consisting of 5 open-type questions. Grading: The final grade will be calculated as a composite evaluation of three parts: 1) Presentation>> 20 points max; 2) Activity points>> students active on or more than 70% of discussions= 10 points, students active on 50-70% of discussions= 5 points, those active on less than 50%= 3 points. 3) Final exam>> 5 open-type questions, 25 points max. *Grades: A> 58 points and more B> 51 – 57 points C> 44 – 50 points D> 36 – 43 points E> 28 – 35 points F> 27 points and less
Assessment methods
Grading: The final grade will be calculated as a composite evaluation of three parts: 1) Presentation>> 20 points max; 2) Activity points>> students active on or more than 70% of discussions= 10 points, students active on 50-70% of discussions= 5 points, those active on less than 50%= 3 points. 3) Final exam>> 5 open-type questions, 25 points max. *Grades: A> 58 points and more B> 51 – 57 points C> 44 – 50 points D> 36 – 43 points E> 28 – 35 points F> 27 points and less
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2022/MVZb2006