SDEb1010 Western Europe after 1989

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024

The course is not taught in Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course deals with the political development of Western Europe after 1989. The aim is to trace the key processes and discuss the key issues facing Western Europe since the end of the Cold War. The main focus is on political problems and challenges, but understanding Western European politics will also be anchored in understanding social and economic transformations. The structure of the course favours the analysis of more general processes over singular events. The subject is approached in an interdisciplinary manner combining historical and political science approaches.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to apply basic methods of source criticism, will be able to summarize the main trends of political development in Western Europe since the end of the Cold War and will be able to evaluate their impact on contemporary European politics.
Syllabus
  • 1. Western Europe as a geographical, historical and geopolitical concept 2. Postmodern (?) society 3. Post-industrial (?) economy 4. Evolution of European integration after the EU 5. Europeanisation of European politics 6. The far right and the far left 7. Populism and business parties 8. The economic crisis after 2008 9. Migration crisis after 2024 10. Covid and the transformation of Western European politics
Literature
    required literature
  • KERSHAW, Ian. The global age : Europe 1950-2017. [Spojené státy americké]: Viking, 2018, xxx, 669. ISBN 9780735223981. info
  • BALE, Tim. European politics : a comparative introduction. 4th edition. London: Macmillan international, higher education, 2017, xxi, 452. ISBN 9781137581334. info
  • Europe today : a twenty-first century introduction. Edited by Ronald Tiersky - Erik Jones. 5th ed. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015, xix, 468. ISBN 9781442221093. info
  • BEREND, T. Iván. Europe since 1980. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010, xi, 331. ISBN 9780521129176. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars, term paper, and class presentation
Assessment methods
Term paper and class presentation (50 %), attendance (10 %), oral exam (40 %)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
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