MEBn4005 Energy Security of the Czech Republic

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Tomáš Vlček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Jirušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Tomáš Vlček, 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
Prerequisites
! MEB404 Energy Security of the Czech && !NOW( MEB404 Energy Security of the Czech )
Ability to write, read and speak English
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
The aim of the course is to provide students with comprehensive understanding of the energy sector of the Czech Republic within regional context as it also aims at acquainting students with the situation in the energy sectors of countries in Central and Eastern Europe, with special emphasis on the issues related to natural gas, oil and nuclear energy. The course is based on a structure offering its graduates a comprehensive look on the energy sector of the Czech Republic and other countries in the region, taking into account historic development, foreign policy discourse, economic trends, and geopolitical position. The particular topics include coal, nuclear, oil, gas and other energy sectors, as well as energy policies in their broader sense. Attention is paid both to the historical background and recent issues.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course students will be able to understand the role of energy commodities in the examined region, and to analyze current issues, structure and logic of reasoning in particular energy sectors of the Czech Republic and other countries in the region. They will also be able to critically assess contemporary energy policies of mentioned countries not only in domestic, but as well as in foreign policy. The graduates will also be able to explain the nexus between energy and foreign policy discourse of Russia and examined countries. The graduates will be able to analyze and evaluate energy-specific interests and dilemmas of the Central European countries and thus be able to perform their energy-related work duties within the whole region.
Syllabus
  • 1) Energy as a Policy Tool: Introduction to the Region, Topics and Relations 2) Energy Sectors, History and Economic Development in Post-Communist European Countries 3) Coal Sector in the Czech Republic and Central Europe 4) Natural Gas Sector in the Czech Republic and Central and Eastern Europe I 5) Natural Gas Sector in the Czech Republic and Central and Eastern Europe II 6) Current Trends: Current Energy Security Issues in Central Europe 7) Oil Sector in the Czech Republic and Central and Eastern Europe 8) Nuclear energy in the Czech Republic and Central and Eastern Europe 9) Reading Week 10) Renewable Energy Sources Development in the Czech Republic and Central Europe 11) Current Trends: Nuclear Energy Developments in CEE and the Business Strategy of Rosatom State Nuclear Corporation 12) Current Trends: Energy Transition and Its Impact on the Czech Republic 13) Seminar on Contemporary Issues
Literature
    required literature
  • VLČEK, Tomáš and Martin JIRUŠEK. Na vlnách změny : Česká energetika a geopolitický zlom (On the waves of change : Czech Energy and Geopolitical Turning Point). 1. vyd. Brno: Books & Pipes, 2023, 158 pp. ISBN 978-80-7485-272-5. URL info
  • VLČEK, Tomáš, Ľubica BODIŠOVÁ, Patrícia BRHLÍKOVÁ, Filip ČERNOCH, Jana ČERVINKOVÁ, Gabriela PROKOPOVÁ, Tereza STAŠÁKOVÁ, Eliška TRMALOVÁ, Veronika ZAPLETALOVÁ and Petra BENDLOVÁ. The Energy Sector and Energy Policy of the Czech Republic. Online. 2nd revised edition. Brno: Masaryk University Press, 2019, 172 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-9352-2. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5817/CZ.MUNI.M210-9352-2019. URL info
  • Trh s elektřinou : úvod do liberalizované energetiky. Vydání druhé, aktualizova. Praha: Asociace energetických manažerů, 2016, 548 stran. ISBN 9788026092124. info
  • ČERNOCH, Filip, Jan OSIČKA, Robert ACH-HÜBNER and Břetislav DANČÁK. Energiewende: current state, future development and the consequences for the Czech Republic. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2015, 178 pp. Edice Monografie, sv. 62. ISBN 978-80-210-8279-3. Online knihkupectví Munipress info
  • JIRUŠEK, Martin, Tomáš VLČEK, Hedvika KOĎOUSKOVÁ, Roger W. ROBINSON, Anna LESHCHENKO, Filip ČERNOCH, Lukáš LEHOTSKÝ and Veronika ZAPLETALOVÁ. Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe and the Operations of Russian State-Owned Energy Enterprises. Online. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2015, 696 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-8048-5. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5817/CZ.MUNI.M210-8048-2015. Čítárna Munispace info
  • GETZNER, Michael. Nuclear policies in Central Europe : environmental policy and enlargement of the European Union : Austria's policies towards nuclear reactors in neighboring countries. New York: Peter Lang, 2003, 105 s. ISBN 0820464252. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, in-class discussions, reading of course-related literature
Assessment methods
Mid-term test, exam, group research projects (policy brief)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/MEBn4005