FSS:EVS183 European Integration of Balkan - Course Information

EVS183 European Integration of the Western Balkans

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

Marko Stojić, PhD. (lecturer), prof. PhDr. Petr Kaniok, Ph.D. (deputy)

Guaranteed by

doc. PhDr. Markéta Pitrová, 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

Timetable

Thu 13:30–15:00 M117

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 22 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/22, only registered: 0/22

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 17 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

By the end of this course students will be able to: • Understand and analyse the history and the current developments of the Western Balkan relations with the EU • Understand both the mechanisms and the outcomes of EU influence on (potential) candidate countries in general and in the Western Balkans in particular • Explain and understand the significance of European issues in the context of domestic politics, policies and polities of the Western Balkan states • Gain an awareness of the theoretical concepts that underpin these themes • Develop verbal skills through taking part in discussions •Acquire presentation skills through seminar presentations

Syllabus

• The course aims to examine the process of European integration of the Western Balkan countries (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo) and to analyse a wider impact of European integration on their domestic policies, politics and institutions. The course starts with an introduction of EU enlargement policy towards this region. It discusses the most important aspects of EU enlargement strategy, the Stabilization and Association Process and Agreements as well as the key elements of accession negotiations, including EU’s increased political and economic conditionality and monitoring. The course then examines EU’s relations with individual Western Balkan countries by assessing the progress that has been achieved as well as the key obstacles and challenges these countries have faced in their bid to become members of the Union. In the second part, the course examines Europeanization of the Western Balkan states, i.e. the nature and results of a significant EU’s impact on their policies, politics (political parties and party systems) and institutions. By looking at different concepts and approaches to Europeanization, the course provides an analytical overview of the influence of European integration on domestic change in these countries. It also examines the diverging compliance patterns of the Western Balkan states and asks why some of them have complied substantially, some partially and others have mostly defied the EU. The course finally evaluates the successes and failures of EU state-building policies as well as the future of the EU enlargement policy.

Assessment methods

This course is taught through a combination of lectures/seminars every second week. The weekly topics will be introduced in the lectures. Students are expected to read the readings and be prepared to make an input into the seminar discussion, ask questions and raise points. Each student is required to deliver one presentation during the term. The presentation must include: 1.) Summary of the main arguments of the readings, 2.) Discussion of how the readings relate to the weekly topics and broader themes of the course, and 3.) Questions for discussions. The presentations slides should be emailed to me by Wednesday, 20h. Mid-term and final exams consisting of a combination of multiple choice and essay questions will be based on the required readings and seminar discussions. Grading 1. Final exam(40%) 2. Midterm exam (30%) 3. Seminar presentation (20%) 4. Seminar attendance and contribution (10%)

Language of instruction

English

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course is taught only once.

• Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2016/EVS183