The Transformation of the Communist Successor Parties in Central Europe and Influence of the West European Leftists

Sylabus

1. Introduction – course theme, structure and recommended literature (20.2.) Reading: Císař, O. Left in the 21st Century, Trajectories of the Left 2. Introduction to the analysis of the communist and communist-successor parties (27.2.) Reading: Keith, D., March, L., Escalona, F., The Dynamics of the Radical Left Party Family. Introduction, in: Keith, D., March, L., Escalona, F. (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of Radical Left Parties in Europe (London: Palgrave McMillan, 2023), pp. 6-31. 3. Model Case of the Italian Communist Party (5.3.) Reading: Paolo Chiocchetti, P., Italy, in: Keith, D., March, L., Escalona, F. (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of Radical Left Parties in Europe (London: Palgrave McMillan, 2023), pp. 361 - 396 4. Transformation of the French and the Spanish Communists (12.3.) Reading: Escalona, F., France, in: in: Keith, D., March, L., Escalona, F. (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of Radical Left Parties in Europe (London: Palgrave McMillan, 2023), pp.201-234.; Verge, T., “The Spanish United Left – The Belated and Troublesome Transition from Policy to Office-seeking”, In: Left Parties in National Governments, ed. Olsen, J., Koss, M., Hough, D., Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, pp. 87-105. 5. Situation of Other Radical Left Parties in Europe (19.3.). Reading: March, L., „Radical Left Success before and after Great Recession”, in March, L. and D. Keith, Europe´s Radical Right: From Marginality to Mainstream?, London: Rowman, 2016, pp. 27-50. 6. The year of change 1989/1990 - the Nature and the Positions of the Individual Communist Parties (26.3.) Reading: Kitschelt, H., Mansfeldová, Z., Post-Communist Party Systems: Competition, Representation and Inter-Party Cooperation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999, pp. 19-42 a 383-407. 7. Survival Strategies of the Communist Successor Parties in Central Europe (2.4.) Reading: Ishyiama, J.T., Bozóki, A., “Adaptation and Change: Characterizing the Survival Strategies of the Communist Successor Parties”, Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, Vol. 17, No. 3, 2001, pp.33-50. Grzymala-Busse, A., Redeeming the Communist Past, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, pp. 19-69. 8. Development of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (9.4.) Reading: Handl, V. Czech Republic, in: Keith, D., March, L., Escalona, F. (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of Radical Left Parties in Europe (London: Palgrave McMillan, 2023), pp.597-632. 9. Situation in Slovakia and Poland – Development of the Party of the Democratic Left and in the Polish Successor Party (16.4.) Reading: Handl, V., Leška, V., Between Emulation and Adjustment: External Influences on Programmatic Change in the Slovak SDL, Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2005, s. 109-126. Skiba, L., The People, the Programme and the Governments of the SLD, Trajectories of the Left, ed. Kopeček, L., Brno: DSCS 2005, pp. 118-129. 10. Development of the PDS/Die Linke (23.4.) Reading: Olsen, J., Germany, in: Keith, D., March, L., Escalona, F. (eds), The Palgrave Handbook of Radical Left Parties in Europe (London: Palgrave McMillan, 2023), pp.235-262. 11. Debate with a member of Czech Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (30.4./7.5.) 12. Closing Seminar – Discussion About the Success or the Failure of the Analysed Communist Parties (14.5.)

Up to the 1st May the topics of the essays must be reported; the size is 10-12 pages. Deadline of these essays is 31.5.

Anotace

The academic course analyse the historical development and the transformation of the West European communist parties as well as the successor parties in the post-soviet bloc. The main attention is focused on the model case of the Italian Communist Party and on the integration of its transformation to the general transformation model.

It will be also analysed the connection between the West and the East European communists and especially "the export" of political and ideological models from the West to the East. Within the course is also planned the debate with one of the members of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia.