RSb704 Civil Society and Human Rights in Eastern Europe

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Kateřina Špácová (lecturer), prof. PhDr. Ivo Pospíšil, DrSc. (deputy)
Mgr. Kateřina Špácová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Josef Šaur, Ph.D.
Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. PhDr. Jiří Gazda, CSc.
Supplier department: Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 18:00–19:40 B2.44
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 9/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 26 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The students will get acquainted with the current role of civil society in human rights protection and democratization in selected Eastern European countries (Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan). One lecture will also be devoted to unrecognized territories (Nagorno Karabakh, Transnistria, South Ossetia, Abkhazia). The students will learn about the current challenges and recent successes of the local civil society, and about the support Czech, other European organizations, and the wider international community provide. They will learn about the various types of activities used for human rights and democracy promotion.
Learning outcomes
The students will get a grasp of current human rights and democracy promotion issues in selected Eastern European regions and the ways used to improve the situation. They will do an in-depth study on one topic of their particular interest.
Syllabus
  • 1. Belarus: Revolution versus Evolution 2020, Democratic Forces, Role of the Diaspora. Guest: Kryścina Šyjanok. 2. Ukraine After the Full-Scale Invasion - War Crimes. The Situation of Human Rights Defenders and Activists in Ukraine and the Occupied Territories Before and After February 2022. Guests: Maria Sulialina, Ukraine: 5 AM coalition. Anastasia Moskvychova, Frontline Defenders, formerly Zmina. 3. LGBTQ and Women's Rights in Armenia. The Velvet Revolution of 2018. Guests: Gohar Shahnazaryan, Women’s Resource Center Armenia. Mamikon Hovsepyan, PINK Armenia. 4. The Role of Journalism in Human Rights Promotion. Interaction with Civil Society. Russia and Ukraine 2011-2022. Guest: Vojtěch Boháč, VOXPOT. 5. Civil Society. The Maidan. 6. Unrecognized Territories. Campaign as a Tool. Guest. Milan Štefanec, NESEHNUTÍ. 7. European Court of Human Rights – Role of Civil Society, Focus on Eastern Europe. Guests: Ramute Remezaite, EHRAC. Ketevan Abashidze, HRHF, formerly GYLA. 8. MFA CR and the EU and Human Rights in Eastern Europe. Think tanks. Guest: Jan Marian, MFA CR. 9. Civic Education, Inclusive Education – Belarus and Ukraine. Guest: Zdenka Vágnerová, Association for International Affairs. 10. Preparation of presentations by the students 11. Battling Authoritarians Across Post-Soviet Region. Guest: Rostislav Valvoda, Prague Civil Society Center. 12-13. Presentations by students on their selected topics. 14. Kolokvium (discussion on materials covered in class)
Literature
    required literature
  • Recent reports by Human Rights Watch and Freedom House
    recommended literature
  • Authoritarianism goes global : the challenge to democracy. Edited by Larry Jay Diamond - Marc F. Plattner - Christopher Walker. Baltimore: John Hopkins university press, 2016, viii, 243. ISBN 9781421419978. info
  • Belarus lives! Belarus fights! / Bělorusko žije! Bělorusko bojuje! Praha, Post Bellum, 2021. 217 pages.
  • BOHÁČ, Vojtěch. Všechny cesty vedou k válce. Brno: CPress, 2022.
  • DRAŽANOVÁ, Adéla, ŠUPOVÁ, Tereza. Bělorusko na cestě ke svobodě. Praha: KNIHA ZLIN, 2021.
  • HAVEL, Václav: Moc bezmocných/The Power of the Powerless
  • Report on the State of Civil Society in the EU and Russia. Berlin: EU-Russia Civil Society Forum, 2020
  • SNYDER, Timothy: The Making of Modern Ukraine. YaleCourses, online lectures. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh9mgdi4rNewfxO7LhBoz_1Mx1MaO6sw_
  • SNYDER, Timothy. On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York: Tim Duggan Books, 2017
  • SNYDER, Timothy. The road to unfreedom : Russia, Europe, America. First published. London: Vintage, 2019, 359 stran. ISBN 9781784708573. info
  • SNYDER, Timothy. Tyranie : 20 lekcí z 20. století. Translated by Martin Pokorný. Vydání první. V Praze: Paseka, 2017, 116 stran. ISBN 9788072603596. info
Teaching methods
Short home preparation – basic information about the guests, their topics, organization, and recent developments in their country. In-class lectures and follow-up discussions with the guests. Reflection at the end of the seminar.
Assessment methods
Minimum 70 % attendance required (10 lesson). Short home preparation. Participation in the in-class discussions. 10-minute in-class presentation (possibly prepared in a team). Final week discussion on materials covered in class.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
Teacher's information
Mgr. Kateřina Špácová, Masaryk University graduate. Eight-year experience from work in Czech and Norwegian non-governmental organizations: support to human rights defenders and civil society organizations in Belarus, Ukraine and South Caucasus. Lived in Georgia, covering Armenia and Azerbaijan.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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