sotirovic comparative history description of course unit january 2014

Page | 1 ©Vladislav B. Sotirovic

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE UNIT

1.

Course unit title Code

COMPARATIVE HISTORY OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST

EUROPE (1683-TO THE PRESENT)

LLL14B000462

2.

Name of lecturer(s) Department(s)

Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Vladislav Sotirovič

Institute of Political Sciences

Faculty of Politics and Management

Mykolas Romeris University

3.

Cycle of course unit Level of course unit Type of course unit

First Bachelor Free optional

4.

Mode of delivery Year of study and semester when

the course unit is delivered

Language of instruction

Class room Autumn/Spring English

5.

Study requirements

Prerequisites:

Introductory knowleadge of European history

Co-requisites:

No co-requisites

6.

Recommended optional programme components

No recommended optional programme components 7.

Number of ECTS

credits allocated

Student’s workload Contact work hours Independent work

hours

6 ECTS 162 hrs 48 hrs 114 hrs

8.

Purpose of the course unit: programme competences to be developed

The purpose and guiding idea of the course is to focus on a

comparison of historical, cultural, political, social and economic

developments of two distinctive but closely related regions of

Europe conventionally defined as the Central and the Southeast.

The subject covers the period of the last three centuries in the

context of the Central-Southeast European civilization, from the

time of the Great Viennese War (1683−1699) up to the present time.

It will help to search for the understanding of historical development

of the nations at the borderlands of the multiethnic empires

(especially the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire). This

situation affected the social-economic, political and cultural

structures of the nations at the borderlands where center-periphery

dimensions were juxtaposed, adopted or resisted by the local

population. Historical phenomenon of the regions is that regardless

on the changeable borders through the centuries, Central and

Southeast Europe had always multinational character.

Methodological technique of comparison is directed to present,

discuss and compare the major problems of the Central-Southeast

European cultural, political, economic and social developments in

the 18th

, 19th

, 20th

and 21st centuries. The tensions between the

“westerners” or externalism and the “nativists” or internalism,

between the conflicting metaphors of orientalism and nationalism,

the national awakening in the 18th

century, the rise of national states,

first in the Southeast Europe in the 19th

century, then in the Central

Europe in the 20th

century, cultural dimension in the historical


experience of the Central-Southeast European nations in the period

of the formation of national identity, national state and national

ideology, increases the complexity of comparisons.

The course is divided into two parts and each devoted to a different

time period. Chronologically, the first part deals with the period

from 1683 (the beginning of the Great Viennese War) to 1878 (the

San Stefano Peace Treaty), while the second part deals with the

period from 1878 (the Berlin Congress) to the present day.

Regular attendance at all class meetings is essential. Students are

expected to take an active part in discussion and to have one seminar

presentation.

Learning outcomes of the

programme

Learning outcomes of the

course unit

Teaching and

learning methods

Assessment

methods

Students will be able to

receive knowledge

within a common

education framework of

humanitarian and social

sciences


analyze and try to solve

problems in

contemporary Central

and Southeast European

politics


disseminate their

received knowledge and

trained skills

To be able to

understand the process

of creation of the

Central and Southeast

European nations and

states and

characteristics of the

regional ethnic

conflicts

To be able to present

and discuss scientific

research results,

historical sources and

documents upon the

studies on Central and

Southeast European

history of the modern

time

Problem learning Control work

By analyzing the

policy and process of

the atempts to create

independent national

states at Central and

Southest Europe in

modern time to be able

to explain how this

process was

historically going on

and what are the

results with the future

perspectives

Case studies Written exam

To be able to analyze a

case study by

individual or group

work

To be able to choose

an adequate research

strategy and methods

Learning and

organization of the

work by electronic

means (moodle)

Group or individual

presentation

To be able to do case

study and scientific

Co-operative

learning method

Group or individual

presentation


problem analyze

To be able to criticize

an opponent’s view

within a framework of

tolerance and

competence

9.

Course contents

Topics

Contact work hours and planned

learning activities

Independent work

hours and tasks

Lec

ture

s

Co

nsu

ltat

ion

s

Sem

inar

s

Tra

inin

g e

xer

cise

s

Lab

ora

tory

wo

rk

Inte

rnsh

ip

All

co

nta

ct w

ork

ho

urs

Ind

epen

den

t w

ork

ho

urs

Tasks

1. Introductory lecture: the Central and

Southeast Europe: Geographic, national,

linguistic, political and economic

characteristics of the regions

Where are the borders of the Central and

Southeast Europe? What are historical and

cultural aspects of the Central and Southeast

Europe? The ethnolinguistic structure of the

Central and Southeast Europe. The

characteristics of historical development of

the Central and Southeast European states

and nations and the regional geopolitics.

2 2 16 Reading scientific

literature and

historical sources

2. Borderlands and history of the Central

and Southeast Europe

The main characteristics of the borderlands

history of the Central and Southeast Europe

from 1683 to the present time. The Central

and Southeast Europe between Germany and

Russia.

6 4 10 18 Reading scientific

literature and

historical sources

3. The Central and Southeast European

nations and societies

The main characteristics of the national and

social developments of the Central and

Southeast European societies from 1683 to

the present. Habsburg, Prussian/German,

Venetian/Italian, Russian and

Ottoman/Islamic impacts on the societies

from both regions.


literature and

historical sources

Watching archival

video material

4. The Central Europe: Birthplace of the

Modern World?


literature and

historical sources


The “Phenomena of Vienna 1848−1938”.

Vienna, Prague and Budapest and the

cultural identity of the Central Europe in

modern time. The Central European cultural

and intellectual innovation and Modern

World.

5. The Ottoman society and state

organization in the Southeast Europe

The main characteristics and development of

the Ottoman type of the society, state

structure and economy in the region of the

Southeast Europe. The Ottoman cultural

inheritance in the region.


literature and

historical sources

Watching archival

video material

6. Comparative political history of the

Central and Southeast Europe from 1683

to 1914

The Great Vienna War of 1683−1699,

Poland-Lithuania between Prussia, Habsburg

Monarchy and Russia. Three divisions of the

“Republic of Two Nations” (Poland-

Lithuania) between Prussia, Habsburg

Monarchy and Russia. Habsburg and

Russian wars against the Ottoman Empire in

the 18th

century. Creation of national states

in the Southeast Europe in the 19th

century.

Two Balkan Wars of 1912−1913 against the

Ottoman Empire.


literature and

historical sources

7. Comparative political history of the

Central and Southeast Europe from 1914

to the present

The First World War, 1914−1918. The

Interwar years, 1918−1939. The Second

World War, 1939−1945. The Cold War,

1948−1989. The post-Cold War history up to

the present.


literature and

historical sources

Watching archival

video material

Overall

28 20 48 114

10.

Assessment strategy Weighting

percentage

Period or

date of

assessment

Assessment criteria

Written exam (integral

test to check theoretical

and practical

knowledge)

40% Session period The test consists of open and closed questions

(varying difficulties, from understanding to

evaluation), each question is worth one point.

Assessment:

5: Excellent knowledge and skills. 45-50% of

correct answers.

4: Good knowledge and skills; may be minor

errors. 35-44% of correct answers.

3: Average knowledge and skills; there are errors.


25-34% of correct answers.

2: Knowledge and skills are below average; there

are (basic) errors. 15-24% of correct answers.

1: Knowledge and skills to satisfy the minimum

requirements; lots of errors. 5-14% of correct

answers.

0: Does not meet minimum requirements. 0-4% of

correct answers.

Class room work during

the seminars

40% Semester

period

Assessment:

The structure of presentation (evaluation criteria:

clear and consistent layout (introduction, body and

conclusion)) up to 1 point;

Conceptualism of presentation (evaluation criteria:

complete and reasonable disclosure of the chosen

topic) up to 2 points;

Failure to deliver presentation - 0 points.

Individual self-work

during the semester

period

20% Semester

period

20% - to actively and constructively participate in

discussions, to answer questions, to formulate

problems and issues, to provide critical comments;

10% - to participate in the debate, to answer to

frequently asked questions;

0% - almost does not participate in the discussion

or spent more than 1/3 of the seminars.

11.

Required reading

1. Daskalov R., Mishkova D., Entangled Histories of the Balkans: Transfers of Political Ideologies and

Institutions. Balkan Studies Libraries, Brill Academic Publishing, 2013.

2. Haupt H. G., Kocka J. (eds.), Comparative and Transnational History: Central European Approaches

and New Perspectives. New York –Oxford: Berghan Books, 2012.

3. Sotirović B. V., From the Balkan History of Diplomacy and Politics. Vilnius: Lithuanian University of

Educational Sciences Press, 2013.

4. Snyder T., Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin. New York, Basic Books, 2012.

Recommended reading

Banac I. (ed.), Eastern Europe in Revolution. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1992.

Banac I., The National Question in Yugoslavia: Origins, History, Politics. Ithaca, New York: Cornell

University Press, 1984.

Berend I. T., History Derailed: Central and Eastern Europe in the Long Nineteenth Century. 2005.

Bidelaux R., Jeffries I., A History of Eastern Europe: Crisis and Change. London−New York:

Routledge, 1998.

Chirot D. (ed.), The Origins of Backwardness in Eastern Europe: Economics & Politics from the Middle

Ages to the Early Twentieth Century. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989.

Hagen W. W., German History in Modern Times: Four Lives of the Nation. New York: Cambridge


Hall R. C., (ed.), War in the Balkans: An Encyclopedic History from The Fall of The Ottoman Empire

to The Breakup of Yugoslavia. 2014.

Hogarth D. G., The Balkans: A History of Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Rumania and Turkey. 2013.

Janos C. A., East Central Europe in the Modern World: The Politics of the Borderlands from Pre- to


PostCommunism. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2000.

Jelavich B., History of the Balkans. Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Cambridge: Cambridge


Jelavich B., History of the Balkans. Twentieth Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983.

Johnson R. L., Central Europe: Enemies, Neighbors, Friends. New York−Oxford: Oxford University

Press, 2002.

Kaplan R. D., Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History. New York: Picador, 2005.

Lewis P. G., Central Europe Since 1945. New York−London: Routledge, 2013.

MacMillan M., The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914. New York: Random House, 2013.

Mazower M., The Balkans: A Short History. New York: Random House, 2002.

Merdjanova I., Rediscovering the Umma: Muslims in the Balkans Between Nationalism and

Transnationalism. New York−Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2013.

Palmer A., The Lands Between. A History of East-Central Europe since the Congress of Vienna.

London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1970.

Ramet S. P. (ed.), Central and Southeast European Politics since 1989. Cambridge: Cambridge


Rupnik J., The Other Europe. London, 1989.

Rothschild J., Wing N. M., Return to Diversity: A Political History of East Central Europe Since World

War II. 2007.

Simms B., Europe: The Struggle for Supremacy From 1453 To The Present. New York: Basic Books,

2013.

Sotirović B. V., Emigration, Refugees and Ethnic Cleansing: The Death of Yugoslavia, 1991−1999.

Saarbrücken: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2013.

Sotirović B. V., Creation of the First Yugoslavia: How the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was

Established in 1918, Saarbrücken: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2012.

Sotirović B. V., Balcanica, Serbica, Yugoslavica. Vilnius: Vilnius University Press, 2007.

Stink P. (ed.), Mitteleuropa: History and Prospects. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1994.

Glenny M., The Fall of Yugoslavia: The Third Balkan War. London 1992.

Glenny M., The Balkans: Nationalism, War, and The Great Powers, 1804−2012. Kindle Edition, 2012.

Kann A. R., A History of the Habsburg Empire 1526-1918. Los Angeles−London: University of

California Press, 1977.

Kontler L., A History of Hungary. Palgrave Macmillan, 2006.

Lewis P., Central Europe since 1945. London: Longman, 1994.

Teichova A., Central Europe in the Twentieth century: An Economic History Perspective. Hants:


Aldershot, 1997.

Wachtel A. B., The Balkans in World History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.

Wandycz P., The Price of Freedom: A History of East Central Europe from the Middle Ages to the

Present. London: Routledge, 1992.

Wolchik Sh. L., Curry J. L., Central and East European Politics: From Communism to Democracy.

2010.

sotirovic comparative history description of course unit january 2014

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