Syllabus
European and Global Contexts WEEK 2
1. Where is the heart of Europe? Changing political definition of Central Europe and its geographical and geological determination Central Europe as a meeting point of diverse language groups Spread of Christianity, Otonians and the birth of the Holy Roman Empire Premyslids; Consequences of the conflicts of Papal and Imperial ambitions
2. Luxemburgs, Bohemian Lands, France and Holy Roman Empire WEEK 3
3. Early reformation and first liberal concepts of statehood and European integrity Renovation of the kingdom under Jagiellonian dynasty
4. Reformation, Humanism, Recatolisation Ideas and Ideologies: Church, Nation and State WEEK 4
5. EXCURSION to the Prague Castle
6. The Thirty Years War, Rationalism and Enlightened Absolutism: Marie Therese and Joseph II. WEEK 5
7. Europe and the World after the Congress of Vienna System of balance of power Major powers in Europe Readings: Kennedy 1989 introduction
8. Era of Nationalism Nations and nationalism Readings: Renan 1882 Central Europe in its Diversity: Transitions and Alternatives, Contacts and Conflicts; Czechs and their Neighbors WEEK 6
9. Europe and the World at the Turn of Centuries Colonial Expansion Forming alliances Readings: Kennedy 1989 I
10. Great War (WW1) Causes and course of the war Results and consequences of the war Readings: Kennedy 1989 II WEEK 7
11. Versailles System of Power New world order and its problems Readings: Kissinger I
12. Inter-war Period International politics in the 1930s Nazi aggression, policy of appeasement Readings: Kissinger II WEEK 9
13. The Second World War Causes and outbreak of the war Readings: Agnew 2004, chapter 12
14. Czech Lands under the Nazi Occupation EXCURSION: visit to the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror Readings: Pánek, Tůma 2009 Revolution and Social Change WEEK 10
15. New World Order and the East-West Division New superpowers Cold war MIDTERM EXAM Readings: Kissinger III
16. Communism in Europe Ideology of communism Attempts to reform communism Readings: Agnew 2004, chapters 13 and 14 WEEK 11
17. Communism in Czechoslovakia MOVIE: KRÁL ŠUMAVY (SMUGGLERS OF DEATH,
1959)
18. Czechoslovakia at Wars EXCURSION: The Army Museum Žižkov WEEK 12
19. Europe and the World during the Cold War Course of the cold war Major conflicts Readings: Harrison 2003
20. Process of the European Integration Roots of the European integration European idea Readings: Schuman declaration, and Szczerbiak, Taggart 2002 Memory and Forgetting; Biographies and Oral History WEEK 13
21. Between Détente and Armament Towards the end of the Cold war Readings: Kennedy III
22. Breakdown of the Communist Block Causes of the collapse of the Eastern Block Readings: Fukuyama 1989 Landscapes: Real and Imaginary WEEK 14
23. Changing Landscape of European politics Transition to Democracy in Europe: theory and practice Readings: Ash 1989
24. Changing Landscape of German Politics MOVIE: "GOOD BYE, LENIN" (2003) Transitions and Alternatives of the Future WEEK 15
25. Building New Democracies Creating new party systems: a Case of Czechoslovakia Readings: Novák 2010
26. The Šumava Trip EXCURSION: on the track of the King of Šumava WEEK 16
27. Victory of Liberal Democracy ? Current challenges to liberal democracy Readings: Huntington 1993
28. Final Test and final presentations
Annotation
The course consists of two autonomous yet synchronized parts. The structure of the both parts respects the chronological order. The first part of the course is taught by Kateřina Průšová (weeks 2-4). Her part of the course is an introduction into Central European history considering the region from diverse perspectives. The area is presented as a meeting point of diverse groups from Celtic settlement to Slaves. The course ends with the last Holy Roman Emperor.
The second part of the course - taught by Miloš Brunclík (weeks 5-16) - will examine the developments of Central Europe in the context of European and world history since the 19th century. Besides the history this part of the course integrates three strands of political science: political theory (political philosophy), international relations and comparative (empirical) politics. Primary attention is given to the 20th century and to description and explanation of the most important events, processes and ideologies. The 20th century witnessed the struggle between liberal democracy and totalitarian or authoritarian movements. The course will interpret the ideological division of the world into the communist East and democratic capitalist West. We will inquiry into the roots of European integration as well as the causes and aftermath of the breakdown of communist regimes in Europe.