(in Polish) Central Europe and the Balkans: Between Identity, Nationalism and Geopolitics

The course focuses on the problems of politics, geopolitics and axiology in Polish, Central European and the Balkans contexts. First two weeks are aimed at introducing students to political, social, historical, and cultural as well as theoretical context. The following weeks are going to be dedicated to the problems of nationalism, identity and identity politics in the region. Later on, we will focus on various problems of transition and integration processes in the region. Finally, several important issues such as geopolitics will be discussed.

The course will incorporate elements of lecture and well as discussion based on assigned reading. Upon completion of the course students will know and understand principal problems of regional politics and geopolitics, how they influence contemporary social and political life as well as European integration. They will also be able to spot and discuss political and axiological issues.

The course focuses on the problems of politics, geopolitics and axiology in Polish, Central European and the Balkans contexts. First two weeks are aimed at introducing students to political, social, historical, and cultural as well as theoretical context. The following weeks are going to be dedicated to the problems of nationalism, identity and identity politics in the region. Later on, we will focus on various problems of transition and integration processes in the region. Finally, several important issues such as geopolitics will be discussed.

The course will incorporate elements of lecture and well as discussion based on assigned reading. Upon completion of the course students will know and understand principal problems of regional politics and geopolitics, how they influence contemporary social and political life as well as European integration. They will also be able to spot and discuss political and axiological issues.

- Bale, T. (2017) European Politics: A Comparative Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan

- Zsuzsa C., Daina E. (eds.) (2021), Central and East European Politics Changes and Challenges, Fifth Edition, Rowman and Littlefield

- White, S., Batt, J., and Lewis, P. G. (eds.) (2013) Developments in Central and East European Politics 5, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

- Rothschild, J., and Wingfield, N. M. (1999) Return to Diversity: A Political History of East Central Europe Since World War II, Oxford: Oxford University Press

- Politics in Central Europe, an open-access journal (Editors: Ladislav Cabada and Šárka Waisová): https://www.politicsincentraleurope.eu/

- Aslund, Anders (2008), How capitalism was built: the transformation of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

- Beyme, Klaus von (1996), Transition to Democracy in Eastern Europe, London: Macmillan Press Ltd.

- Frentzel-Zagórska, Janina, and Jacek Wasilewski, eds. (2000), The Second Generation of Democratic Elites in Central and Eastern Europe, Warsaw: ISP PAN.

- Higley, John, and György Lengyel, eds. (2000), Elites After State Socialism. Theories and Analysis, Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield.

- Higley, John, and Jan Pakulski, Włodzimierz Wesołowski, eds. (1998), Postcommunist Elites and Democracy in Eastern Europe, London: Macmillan Press Ltd.

- Linz, Juan, and Alfred Stepan (1996), Problems of democratic transition and consolidation: Southern Europe, South America, and post-communist Europe, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

- Markowski, Radoslaw, and Edmund Wnuk-Lipinski, eds. (2001), Transformative Paths in Central and Eastern Europe, Warsaw: Fiedrich Ebert Stiftung - PAN ISP.

- Steen, Anton, and Vladimir Gel’man, eds. (2003), Elites and Democratric Development in Russia, London: Routledge.

- Hastings, Andrew (1999). The Construction of Nationhood: Ethnicity, Religion and Nationalism. Cambridge.

- Hobsbawm, Eric (1990). Nations and Nationalism since 1780. Cambridge.

- Hroch, M. 1998. “Real and Constructed: The Nature of a Nation.” In The State of the Nation: Ernest Gellner and the Theory of Nationalism, ed. J. A. Hall, 91–106. Cambridge.

- Perica, Vjekoslav, “Balkan Idols. Religion and Nationalism in Yugoslav States”, New York: Oxford University Press 2022

- Hnizdo, Borivoj, Geopolitical concepts of Central Europe and current reality: language perspective, Przeglad Europejski, vol. 2021, No.1

- Vaskopoulos, George, Western Europe and the Balkans: A Geo-Cultural Approach of International Relations? Perspectives 17/2001(2002) Sage Publications

- Krisafi, Ledion, “Security in the Western Balkans in the context of the war in Ukraine”, Visegrad Insight, April 14, 2022, [at:] https://visegradinsight.eu/security-in-the-western-balkans/ (access: 10.11.2022)

- Agh, Attila, “Cultural War and Reinventing the Past in Poland and Hungary: The Politics and Historical Memory in East-Central Europe”, Polish Political Science Yearbook, Vol. 45, 2016

- Bieber, Florian, “The Rise (and Fall) of Balkan Stabilitocracies”, Horizons: Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development, No. 10, Winter 2018 pp. 176-185

- Kucerova, Irah, “Geopolitics in Central Europe, A Historical View”, Annales Universitatis Apulensis, Series Historica, 19, I (2015)

- Paulicova, Nina, Stępniewski, Tomasz, “Central and Eastern Europe: Imaginary Geographies, Geopolitics and Security Issues”, Rocznik Instytutu Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej” 18 (2020)

- Bornio, Jakub, “Russian Invasion triggers changes in the security architecture in Central and Eastern Europe”, Institute of Central Europe, Lublin 60/2022 [at:] https://ies.lublin.pl/en/comments/russian-invasion-triggers-changes-in-the-security-architecture-in-central-and-eastern-europe/ (access: 10.11.2022)

- Stronski, Pawel, “Russia in the Balkans after Ukraine: A Troubling Actor”, Carnegie Endownment for International Peace, 20.09.2022 [at:] https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/87959

Wiedza

Student zna i rozumie:

- w pogłębiony sposób problemy związane z nacjonalizmem, kwestiami tożsamości wpływającymi na postrzeganie siebie i innych we współczesnej Europie [K_W05]

- więzi polityczne, gospodarcze, społeczne i kulturowe przez pryzmat geopolityki w regionie Europy Środkowej i Bałkanów [K_W06]

- zmiany społeczne i polityczne w regionie Europy Środkowej i Bałkanów w kontekście nowych relacji geopolitycznych oraz wpływu rosnącego nacjonalizmu w tej części Europy [K_W08]

Umiejętności

Student potrafi:

- przeanalizować, zrozumieć i ocenić problematykę relacji tożsamości narodowej i nacjonalizmu, różnych form i metod przeciwdziałania negatywnym skutkom tych relacji [K_U03]

- przygotować ustne wystąpienie podejmujące analizę krytyczną takich zjawisk jak nacjonalizm, problemy geopolityczne i tożsamościowe państw Europy Środkowej i Bałkanów [K_U08]

- w języku angielskim przaygotować prezentacje i uczestniczyć aktywnie na zajęciach wykorzystując terminologię odpowiednią do zagadnień przedmiotu [K_U010]

Kompetencje

Student jest gotów do:

- uznania znaczenia zdobytej wiedzy i krytycznego stosunku do takich zjawisk jak nacjonalizm, źle pojęta polityka tożsamościowa czy różne formy geopolityki w Europie Środkowej i Bałkanach [K_K01]

- świadomego i krytycznego udziału, zarówno słowem pisanym jak i działaniem, w rozpoznaniu zjawisk omawianych w ramach przedmiotu jako obywatel aktywny i odpowiedzialny [K_K03; K_K04]

Zaliczenie na ocenę na ostatnich zajęciach przed sesją.

Ocena składa się z:

- 50% aktywnego uczestnictwa w języku angielskim na zajęciach (prezentacja i aktywność)

- 50% praca pisemna w języku angielskim