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