CORE099 Civil Society and Human Rights in Eastern Europe

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Kateřina Špácová (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Josef Šaur, Ph.D.
Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Josef Šaur, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 18:00–19:40 G24, except Mon 21. 4. to Sun 27. 4.
Prerequisites
TYP_STUDIA(BM) && FORMA(P) && !(PROGRAM(B-RS_) || OBOR(FBRSpV))
The course is open to students in the full-time Bachelor's and five-year Master's programmes, with the exception of the Russian Studies programme.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 100 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 60/100, only registered: 0/100, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/100
Course objectives
1. Introduce students to key concepts such as civil society, human rights, democracy, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the context of Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, countries of the South Caucasus, and relevant unrecognized territories (Transnistria, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and formerly Nagorno-Karabakh).
2. Provide students with specific examples of civil society activities and initiatives in the region.
3. Encourage students to think critically about the role and impact of civil society in protecting human rights, democracy, and the environment in Eastern Europe.
4. Help students reflect on their own potential for civic engagement and involvement in advocacy initiatives.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Understanding
1. Explain key concepts such as civil society, human rights, democracy, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the context of Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, countries of the South Caucasus, and relevant unrecognized territories.
2. Summarize specific examples of civil society activities from the region.

Application
3. Identify how civil society in the region responds to current challenges related to human rights, democracy, and environmental protection.
4. Discuss and compare strategies used by civil society in the region with those in their own country or community.

Reflection and Empathy
5. Evaluate the significance and impact of civic engagement and advocacy in the region.
6. Reflect on their own potential to engage in civic initiatives and consider how they could contribute to the protection of human rights, democratic values, and/or the environment in their own context.
Syllabus
  • 18.2. Introduction to Civil Society: Concepts. Lecturer: Kateřina Špácová, formerly Civic Belarus and Human Rights House Foundation
  • 25.2. Civil Society Campaigns and Local Challenges: Protecting Human Rights, Democracy, and the Environment. Guest: Jaromír Němec, NESEHNUTI and their activities in South Caucasus
  • 4.3. Independent Media and the Role of Journalism in Promoting Democracy. Guest: Vojtěch Boháč, VOXPOT
  • 11.3. !!! beginning at 18.30!!! Human Rights in Unrecognized Territories. Guest: Milan Štefanec, NESEHNUTI, Abkhazia and Transnistria
  • 18.3. no class
  • 25.3. Human Rights Challenges in Azerbaijan and International Advocacy. Guest: Anna Zamejc, Human Rights Specialist
  • 1.4. Supporting Human Rights Defenders: Local and International Efforts. Guest: Representatives from People in Need
  • 8.4. !!! zoom call, students at home !!! Women’s and LGBT Rights in Armenia: Challenges and Impact. Guests: Ani Jilozian, Women’s Support Center, and Mamikon Hovsepyan, PINK Armenia
  • 15.4. Exiled Activism: Belarusian Pro-Democratic Forces Abroad. Guest: Kryścina Šyjanok, Democratic Forces Office in Prague
  • 22.4. Reading Week
  • 29.4. Political Activism and Protests Under Authoritarian Regimes. Guest: Aleksandr Vereshchagin, Russia
  • 6.5. Open-book test - at home
  • 13.5. Civil Society Responses to Environmental Challenges in the Post-Soviet Region. Guest: Martin Skalský, Arnika
  • 20.5. Follow-up on the test. Movie on Azerbaijan's corruption of the Council of Europe
Literature
    required literature
  • SNYDER, Timothy. On tyranny : twenty lessons from the twentieth century. First published. London: The Bodley Head, 2017, 126 stran. ISBN 9781847924889. info
    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 : příběh Ruska a Ukrajiny očima českého reportéra, 2011-2022. 1. vydání. V Brně: CPress, 2022, 424 stran. ISBN 9788026445272. info
  • DRAŽANOVÁ, Adéla, ŠUPOVÁ, Tereza. Bělorusko na cestě ke svobodě. Praha: KNIHA ZLIN, 2021.
  • HAVEL, Václav: Moc bezmocných/The Power of the Powerless
  • Postcolonial Europe? : essays on post-communist literatures and cultures. Edited by Dobrota Pucherová - Róbert Gáfrik. Leiden: Brill Rodopi, 2015, 405 stran. ISBN 9789004303843. info
  • SNYDER, Timothy: The Making of Modern Ukraine. YaleCourses, online lectures. http://bit.ly/the-making-of-modern-ukraine
  • SNYDER, Timothy. The road to unfreedom : Russia, Europe, America. First published. London: Vintage, 2019, 359 stran. ISBN 9781784708573. info
Teaching methods
1. Home Preparation:
Reading and/or listening to assigned materials with a short reflection.
Reading short bios of guest speakers and preparing questions for them.

2. In-Class Activities:
Quizzes to check students’ understanding of key concepts.
Interactive lectures and discussions with practitioners from the field.
End-of-class reflections on key points and the day’s topic.
Assessment methods
Involvement with at least 9 topics:
This can include attending class sessions or submitting written reflections on assigned homework.

Short In-Depth Study:
Each student will submit a written analysis on a human rights topic of their choice (not limited by geographic region).

Final Quiz (Open-Book):
Students will complete a take-home open-book quiz.

Colloquium:
The course will culminate with a colloquium in groups of three, where students will discuss their individual roles in promoting and protecting human rights.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Mgr. Kateřina Špácová is a graduate of Masaryk University with eight years of experience working in non-governmental organizations. Her work has focused on supporting human rights defenders and civil society organizations in Belarus, Ukraine, and the South Caucasus. She has also lived in Georgia, where she worked to protect and strengthen human rights organizations in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Former employers include People in Need (Czechia), Civic Belarus (Czechia), and Human Rights House Foundation (Norway).
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2024, Spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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