Syllabus
Communism and Post-Communism in the Czech Republic
APOV30276E
APOV30276
Summer term 2019/20 Lecturer: Dr. Martin Štefek (martin.stefek@ff.cuni.cz)
This seminar is intended as an introduction into Czech contemporary history and politics for international students. It provides both theoretical and empirical account of Communism and Post-Communism in the Central Europe. The programme of the class may overlap with Czech Political History III (Česká politická historie III) and Political System of the Czech Republic (Politický system ČR).
Assessments: - Seminar paper (3000–4000 words including footnotes) = 50 % of the final grade Deadline for submission: 14th May 2020 (there is no exception). Subject must be consulted with the lecturer beforehand. The paper includes references and bibliography. Academic sources are expected; Wikipedia and non-academic articles are not acceptable.
- A one hour written examination (an essay based on essential reading) = 50 % of the final grade
(You need to get at least 60 % overall)
Tentative schedule (subject to change): 21st Feb 2020 – Introduction 28th Feb 2020 – Historical roots of Czechoslovak Communism 6th Mar 2020 – Post-WWII democracy and the 1948 coup 13th Mar 2020 – Stalinism in Czechoslovakia 20th Mar 2020 – Models reconsidered: totalitarianism and pluralism 27th Mar 2020 – Prague Spring 3rd Apr 2020 – The Fall of Communism 10th Apr 2020 –Bank Holiday 17th Apr 2020 – Transition to democracy; political culture 24th Apr 2020 – Democratic consolidation; party system 1st May 2020 – Bank Holiday 8th May 2020 – Bank Holiday 15th May 2020 – Written examination (first date)
Essential reading:
Articles assigned weekly from the 27th March 2020
BROWN, Archie: Pluralistic Trends in Czechoslovakia. In: Soviet Studies, vol. 17, no. 4 (1966), pp. 453–472.
BROWN, Archie: The Rise and Fall of Communism. London: Vintage 2010. [pp. 148–178; 368–397; 522–548]
LINZ, Juan J. – STEPAN, Alfred: Problems of Democratic Consolidation: Southern Europe, South America, and post-communist Europe. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press 1996. [pp. 316–333]
ULC, Otto: Czechoslovakia. In: RAKOWSKA-HARMSTONE, Teresa: Communism in Eastern Europe. Manchester University Press 1984, pp. 115–136.