ehl cee political system 2010

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Central and Eastern European Political Systems

Syllabus for academic year 2010/2011

Lecturer:PhDr. Martin Ehl, Ph.D.email: [email protected]

Office hours: Friday, 9,50 10,45; Dubesk building, room no. 315

Lectures and seminars:Thursday 18:20 19:50, Dubesk, room 307 (3IRES_2)Friday 08:20 09:50, Dubesk, room 206 (3IRES_1)

Course description and goals:The course is designed to provide students a basic knowledge of political systems of Centraland East European countries within comparative perspective. Main task is to analyse anddescribe recent political development in comparative approach rather than country-by-countryapproach. Stress will be put on postcommunist development and perspective for the futurerather than deep historical excursions. We will analyse geopolitical situation of the region,

political institutions, political parties, electoral systems and differencies between institutionalframeworks and real political life (for details, look at Brief course overview). Students arerequired to follow current political development in the countries of Central and EasternEurope in the media to be able to discuss practical examples of topics analysed during the

course. Class participation is expected as part of the final exam. First part of class is designedas lecture, second as seminar where students are expected to participate in discussions, toanalyse required reading, theoretical questions as well as actual development in the region.

Assessment and requirements:Participation in lectures 10%Written essay 40%Final exam 50%

Participation: Students must be prepared to discuss issues on the basis of required reading for

each of lectures and should follow actual political development (look at suggested list ofmedia and internet sources). Required reading might be updated no later than at the firstlecture.

Essay: 5 7 pages (one page = 1800 signs); topics chosen by individual students from the listof essay topics (part of syllabus). One topic might be chosen by up to three students only,selection must be approved by lecturer no later then Nov 18 (via email, during office hours or

before or after lectures), essays due no later than Jan 15 (via email or in paper form). Essaymust fulfill criteria for an academical work (proper sourcing, clear structure). Only essayswith approved topic will be accepted. Written essay delivered according to above mentionedinstructions is the condition for having possibility to take a final exam.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Final exam: Questions and answers (5 to 10) based on content of lectures and required readinganswered in limited time (dates will be announced, within examination period).

Students with an individual study plan (approved by the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs incompliance with MUP Study and Examination Code) shall contact the teacher no later than by

18 November to discuss the details of their study plan, otherwise they shall not be allowed totake the exam.

Brief course overview

(1): An introduction. Discussion over syllabus, course overview. Discussion about media inthe Central and Eastern Europe as sources for analytical work: where to take information fromand how reliable is it?

Reading:Transitions Online, The Prague Post, The Budapest Times, Moscow Times, The Economist,Financial Times, The Analyst, Politics in Central Europe, Central European Political StudiesReview and other media and internet sources

(2): Year 2010 as milestone for political systems in Central and Eastern Europe.Discussing postelectoral situation in Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Poland andconsequencies of economic crisis and its impact on political development.

Reading:- Reports on actual development in different media (see Suggested media and internetsources)- Tupy, M. L.: Is Liberalism Dead in Central Europe? In: Reason Magazine, Vol. 38, no. 8 (1.

1. 2007)- Ostrovsky, A.: Reversal Of Fortune, in: Foreign Policy, No. 171, (03-01-2009)- Gira, V. S.: Who will determine further scenarios of Russia's political and economicdevelopment? In: Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review, Vol. 21 (2008-21) - www.lfpr.lt

(3)What is Central Europe and what is Eastern Europe. Geopolitical perspective of the region.Reading:- Glassner, M. I.: Political Geography (sec. ed.), John Wiley and Sons: 1996, chapt. 9: CoreAreas and Capitals, pp. 104 114, (or same chapter in different editions of book)- Asmus, R.: Europe's Eastern Promise ; Rethinking NATO and EU Enlargement, in:ForeignAffairs, vol. 87, issue: 1 (January 2008)

- Fritz, V.: New Divisions in Europe? East - East divergence and the influence of EuropeanUnion enlargement, in: Journal of International Relations and Development, 2005, no. 8- Ash, T.G.: History of the Present, Vintage: 2001, chapter: Where is Central Europe Now?- Larrabee, F. S.: Dange and Opportunity in Eastern Europe, in: Foreign Affairs, Vol. 85,Issue: 6 (January 2006)

(4): Year of 1989 twenty years after: what happened was it revolution, transition or simplechange of ruling and economical elite?

Reading:- Pridham, G.: Assessing Democratic Consolidation in Central and Eastern Europe: TheEuropean Dimension, in: Acta Politica, 2006, 41 (pp 342 369)
http://www.lfpr.lt/http://www.lfpr.lt/


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- Zweynert, J., Goldschmidt, N.: The Two Transitions in Central and Eastern Europe as-Processes of Institutional Transplantation, in: Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. XL, no. 4,December 2006- Kurczewski, J., Kurczewska, J.: A self-governing society twenty years after: Democracy andthe third sector in Poland, in: Social Research, 01-01-2001 (Winter 2001)

(5): USSR vs. Central Europe: reflection of Soviet interventions, legacy of communistregimes and communist heirs in present politics.Screening of the part of documentary film THE SOVIET STORY followed by discussion

Reading:- Lucas, E.: The New Cold War, Bloomsbury: 2008, chapter: The New Tsarism: WhatMakes Russias Leaders Tick, pp.: 133 - 167- Ishiyama, J. T.: Political Performance, Electoral Rules and the Rhetorical Strategies of theCommunist Successor Parties in Post Communist Eastern European Politics, in: Acta Politica,2004, 39, pp. 179 202- Applebaum, A.: The Fate of Individual Liberty in Post-Communist Europe, in: The

American Spectator, Vol. 41, no. 3 (April 2008)

(6): Democracy building 1: How to build a party on a green field and how to govern withoutideology. Ideologies and party systems at times of transformation. From ideology to politicaltechnocracy: to what politicians believe?

Reading:- Krastev, I.: The Strange Death of Liberal Consensus, in: Journal of Democracy, Vol. 18, No.4, October 2007 pp.: 56 63- Tka, G., Henjak, A.: Party Systems and Voting Behaviour in the Visegrad Countries 15Years After the Transition, in: aradn, Bradov (see Required reading)- Kopeek, L.: Institutionalization of Slovak Political Parties and Charismatic Leaders, in:Central European Political Studies Review, winter 2004- Egedy, G.: Political Conservatism in Post-Communist Hungary, in: Problems of Post-Communism, vol. 56, no. 3, May/June 2009, pp. 4253- Jasiewicz, K.: The Political-Party Landscape, in: Journal of Democracy, Vol. 18, No. 4,October 2007

(7): Democracy building 2: Presidents vs. parliaments. Constitutitional systems: newbornsand relicts from the past.

Reading:- Priban, J.: Reconstituting Paradise Lost: Temporality, Civility, and Ethnicity in Post-

Communist Constitution-Making, in: Law & Society Review, Vol. 38, No. 3 (09-01-2004)- Krouwel, A.: Measuring presidentialism and parliamentarism: An Application to Central andEast European Countries, in: Acta Politica, 2003, 38, pp. 333364- Stoner-Weiss, K.: Russia: Authoritarianism withour Authority, in: Journal of Democracy,Vol. 17, No. 1 (1. 1. 2006)

(8): Democracy building 3: Electoral systems: Search for perfect MP and search for propervoters.

Reading:- Outl, J.: Voting Systems of the Visegrad Countries, in: aradn, Bradov (see Requiredreading)

- Kubt, M.: Electoral Reforms in Poland after 1991 and Their Political Consequences, in:Politics in Central Europe, Vol. 2, No. 1 (June 2006), pp.: 41 62


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- Hutcheson, D. A., Korosteleva, E. A.: Patterns of Participation in Post-Soviet Politics, in:Comparative European Politics, 2006, 4, pp.: 2346- Letki, N.: Socialization for Participation? Trust, Membership, and Democratization in East-Central Europe, in: Political Research Quarterly, Vol. 57, no. 4 (12-01-2004)

(9): Visegrad model 1: Together but alone: comparation of key developments in Czechia andSlovakiaReading:

- Gabal, I.: The 2006 Parliamentary Elelctions in Czech Republic: Continuity and Change, in:Btora (see Required reading)- Szomolnyi, S.: The 2006 Parliamentary Elections and the Stability of Democracy inSlovakia, in: Btora (see Required reading)- Harris, E.: Europeanization of Slovakia, in: Comparative European Politics, 2004, 2, pp.185211- Rhodes, M.: National identity and minority rights in the constitutions of the Czech Republicand Slovakia, in: East European Quarterly, 09-22-1995

- Ulc, O.: Czechoslovakia's velvet divorce. (formal dissolution into Czech and Slovak states in1992), in: East European Quarterly, 09-22-1996- Ryb, M,: Conditions and Limits of Programmatic Party Competition in Slovakia, in:Politics in Central Europe, Vol. 2, No. 1 (June 2006), pp.: 84 - 98

(10): Visegrad model 2: Two liberal (fairy) tales: comparation of key developments in Polandand Hungary

Reading:- Shields, S.: Historicizing Transition: The Polish Political Economy in a Period of GlobalStructural Change Eastern Central Europes Passive Revolution?, in: International Politics,2006, 43, pp. 474499- Pokol, B.: Separation of powers and parliamentarism in Hungary, in: East EuropeanQuarterly, Vol. 37, no. 1(04-01-2003)- Kucharczyk, J., Fomina, J.: Poland after the 2005 Elections: Domestic Discontent or EUBacklash?, in: Btora (see Required reading)- Kri L.: Hungary after the 2006 Elections: Still Waiting for a Solution?, in: Btora (seeRequired reading)

(11): Baltic model: Quick success and deep fall? Comparation of key developments inEstonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Reading:

- Blank, S.: Russia, NATO enlargement and the Baltic states, in: World Affairs, 1. 1. 1998- Ishiyama, J. T.: Representational mechanisms and ethnopolitics: evidence from transitionaldemocracies in Eastern Europe, in: East European Quarterly, 06-01-1999- Ciziunas, P.: Russia and the Baltic States: Is Russian Imperialism Dead?, in: ComparativeStrategy, 27 (287 307), 2008- Charles, A.: The Electronic State: Estonia's New Media Revolution, in: Journal ofContemporary European Research, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 97 113, 2009(12): From USSR to Russia and back: key developments in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

Reading:- Kernen, B.: Putin and the Parliamentary Elections in Russia: The Confluence (slijanie) of

Russian Political Culture and Leadership, in: East European Quarterly, Vol. 38, no. 1 (04-01-2004)


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- Blank, S.: Is Russia a Democracy and Does it Matter? In: World Affairs, Vol. 167, No. 3(01-01-2005)- Illarionov, A.: Thesiloviki in charge, in: Journal of Democracy Volume 20, Number 2 April2009- Karatnycky, A.: Ukraine's Orange Revolution, in: Foreign Affairs, Vol. 84, issue 2 (03-01-

2005)- Silitski, V.: Preempting democracy: The Case of Belarus, in: Journal of Democracy, Vol. 16,No. 4, October 2005

(13): Populism, nationalism and other isms as tools in contemporary politics. Case study ofSlovak-Hungarian relations. Raise of extremists and right-wing parties.

Reading:- Rupnik, J.: From Democracy Fatigue to Populist Backlash, in: Journal of Democracy, Vol.18, No. 4, October 2007- Lang, K.-O.: Populism in Old and New Europe: Trends and Implications, in: Btora(see Required reading)

- Doekalov, P.: Radical Right-Wing Parties in Central Europe: Mutual Contacts andCooperation, in: Politics in Central Europe, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Winter 2006/7), pp. 7-23

Course readings

Required:

Btora, M., Gyrfov, O., Mesenikov, G., Skladony, T.W., (eds): Democracy andPopulism in Central Europe: The Visegrad Elections and Their Aftermath, Institute for PublicAffairs, Bratislava: 2007

Lucas, E.: The New Cold War: How the Kremlin Menaces both Russia and the West,Bloomsbury, 2008

aradn, P., Bradov, E. (eds): Visegrad Votes. Parliamentary Elections 2005 2006, PalackUniversity, Olomouc: 2007

Garton Ash, T.: History of the Present: Essays, Sketches and Dispatches from Europe in the1990s, Penguin Books, 1999

Journal of Democracy, October 2007, vol. 18, No. 4 (texts on topic Is East-Central Europe

Backsliding?)

Journal of Democracy, April 2009, vol. 20, no. 2 (texts on topic Reading Russia)

Reader of Central and Eastern European Political Systems paper copy in MUP library,electronic copy to be available (includes articles not accesible via MUP library databases ornot free of charge on internet)

Suggested books:

Rupnik, J.: The Other Europe, London: 1988

Veernk, J., Matj, P.: Ten Years of Rebuilding Capitalism: Czech society after 1989(Zprva o vvoji esk spolenosti 1989-98),Academia, Prague, 1999


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Suggested media and internet sources:

Transitions Online -www.tol.czThe Economist - www.economist.comFinancial Times ft.com

The Baltic News - www.baltictimes.comThe Budapest Times - www.budapesttimes.huThe Prague Post - www.praguepost.comCIA World Factbook - www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.htmlCentral European Political Studies Review - www.cepsr.comFreedom House www.freedomhouse.orgThe Warsaw Voice -www.warsawvoice.plMoscow Times - www.themoscowtimes.comBBC News news.bbc.co.ukVisegrad Group - www.visegradgroup.eu

Essay topics for academic year of 2010/11 Winter semester

1 Populism as political tool for right wing parties in Hungary2 The role and development of political opposition in Russia after year of 20003 Is Belarussia heading from authoritarianism to democracy? Changes in 2009 and 20104 Development of Ukrainian political system from Orange revolution to elections of 20105 Impact of economic crisis on political stability in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania6 The role of ethnic minorities in development of political systems in Estonia, Latvia andLithuania after 1991

7 Political right in Poland after 2001: main trends, main parties and main personalities8 Demise of the political left in Poland and Hungary after 2004: what are key similiarities9 Differencies of electoral systems of Czech Republic and Slovakia after 199310 The role of ethnic minorities in development of political systems in Slovakia andHungary11 Social democratic parties in Visegrad four countries: comparation of roots, ideology andleadership12 Liberal parties in Visegrad four countries: comparation of roots, ideology and leadership13 What is political conservatism in Visegrad four countries?14 The year of 1989 in Central Europe twenty years after: where young people getinformation about this period. Do you know from your high school enough?

15 The year of 1991 in former USSR: where young people get information about thisperiod. Do you know from your high school enough?16 Geopolitical perspective of Central and Eastern Europe: comparation of the views fromMoscow and Warsaw (alt. Prague or Budapest)17 Official and unofficial powers of Russian prime minister in Russian political system18 The role of oligarchs in Ukrainian political system19 Nationalism in Slovak politics20 Comparation of the role of president in the political systems of Czech Republic andPoland

Syllabus Central and Eastern European Political Systems Copyright Martin Ehl
http://www.tol.cz/http://www.tol.cz/http://www.cepsr.com/http://www.freedomhouse.org/http://www.warsawvoice.pl/http://www.warsawvoice.pl/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/http://www.visegradgroup.eu/http://www.tol.cz/http://www.cepsr.com/http://www.freedomhouse.org/http://www.warsawvoice.pl/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/http://www.visegradgroup.eu/

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