3. History of Central Europe



      Lecturer: Pavel Pšeja



Objective: To offer historical framework for current political developments and to explain
dependence of current politics on history.


Lecture: Although the major focus will be on the 20^th century, histories of Central European
nations ask for being traced back through many centuries. In this session, drawing upon the fact
contemporary Central European politics can only be in many cases understood if seen through lenses
of both ancient and recent historical experience, the most important events and processes in the
modern Central European will be discussed, thus setting the ground for more deeply rooted knowledge
of Central European states and peoples. Moreover, we will pay some attention to the ends of
communist regimes in Central Europe, with a special emphasis on divergences of the regimes in
respective countries.


Assigned reading:

·        Johnson, Lonnie R. (2002), pp. 223-274.

·        Rothschild, Joseph, Wingfield, Nancy M. (2000), pp. 227-245

·        Wandycz, Piotr S. (2001), pp. 201-235.


These texts were unavailable during the making of this reader, but will be delivered to the
students in time.


Additional reading:

·        Johnson, Lonnie R. (2002): Central Europe: Enemies, Neighbours, Friends, 2^nd edition,
Oxford University Press, Oxford.

·        Rothschild, Joseph, Wingfield, Nancy M. (2000): Return to Diversity: A Political History
of East Central Europe since World War II, 3^rd edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

·        Wandycz, Piotr S. (2001): The Price of Freedom: A history of East Central Europe from the
Middle Ages to the present, 2^nd edition, Routledge, London.


Issues for discussion:

Explain interrelationships of Central European nations.

Characterize differences in major features of communist regimes in Central Europe.