Syllabus
The full syllabus is available in the attached pdf.
The outline:
Introduction
Geopolitics and the idea of the West
Mitteleuropa: 19th century and the emergence of Central Europe
The Spectre of Geopolitik
Westbindung: ‘Bonn Republic’, Cold War and Westernness
‘The Kidnapped West’: Central Europe and the Cold War
‘Return to Europe’: Central Europe and the geopolitics of NATO enlargement
Germany reunited: Return to Mittellage?
Germany and geo-economics
Germany and contemporary Central Europe: Geo-economics and hegemony
The West Reborn? Central Europe, hybrid warfare and the ‘new Cold Wars’
Whither the West? Visegrad Group and the geopolitics of new European crises
Annotation
The relationship between Germany and Central Europe has been uneasy, turbulent and complicated for centuries. While the forms of cooperation and conflict kept changing, they were always rooted in geopolitical ideas about how the map of (Central) Europe should be organised. It is around these shared “mental maps” that key political questions are asked. What is Central Europe and what is the best way to govern it? Is Germany part of Central Europe, or rather a distinct entity, perhaps even a rival or enemy? Are Germany and Central Europe integral parts of the West, or do they rather occupy a distinct position? Does the geographical proximity between Germany and Central Europe make everyone more, or less secure? The module will explore some of the most important instalments of such geopolitical thinking in and about Germany and Central Europe from 1848 until the present time, with heavy emphasis on the post-1990 period. Each of the topics will be split between an introductory lecture and a subsequent seminar discussion based on required readings.
English will be the working language, no other language skills are required.
Zoom link (lectures and seminars): https://cesnet.zoom.us/j/99777577235
Moodle link (materials and submissions): https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=11727