Self and the World

Anotace

The aim of this course is to closely follow the often turbulent development of the Balkan region from the year 1989 until present days. The essence is to tackle various stereotypes and misinterpretations that are still hunting the

Balkan region. Chronologically, the course will follow the fall of communist regimes in the region, Yugoslav wars, political transformation in Romania and Bulgaria, the commencement and progress of the integration process into the EU and also current political hindrances in the region.

Apart from observing the political and international context of the last 20 years in the Balkans, it is necessary to understand the theoretical approaches and general context in which the region develops. Individual lectures will thus combine factual approach with theoretical one - political transformation, EU integration, theories of international relations, securitization, civic and national states, national "great ideas" or national and territorial sovereignty etc.

The objective of this course is to enable the students to approach the Balkan affairs in its complexity, understanding as well as applying theoretical context on contemporary Balkan affairs.