Syllabus
The course will be organized in bloc lectures on the following dates: 13.10. (introductory lecture), 27.10., 10.11., 24.11., 15.12. and 22.12.2023.The students´ evaluation will be based on the written essay (10 pages) providing critical arguments on the topic that shall be consulted by students in advance with the lecturer. The essay shall be submitted by 15th January 2024.
Program:
Introduction: 1. Introduction – course structure, recommended literature, aim of course and contextualization of the topics covered by the course;
Historical Context and Genesis: 2. Velvet Revolution and Czechoslovak Diplomacy – from Soviet satellite to resurgent independence in international relations; 3. Dissolution of Czechoslovakia – impacts on Czech diplomacy and foreign policy; 4. Return to Europe – Czech diplomacy between 1993 and 2004; 5. Czech diplomacy and foreign policy after 2004;
Institutions: 6. Institutions and actors of Czech foreign policy;
Thematic areas: 7. Bilateral and Multilateral relations of the Czech Republic 8. Human rights diplomacy – dispute over the foreign policy flagship (guest – tbc) 9. Geopolitics and security reflections in the Czech foreign policy 10. Economic diplomacy and its role in Czech foreign policy 11. Development cooperation and humanitarian assistance (guest – tbc)
Public diplomacy and emerging topics in the Czech foreign policy
Annotation
Description:
The course aims to introduce the historical development of the Czechoslovak and Czech foreign policy since 1989. The fall of communism and of Iron Curtain opened the way for political, economic and security changes in the region of Central and Eastern Europe and substantially transformed the geopolitical context. The course will expound the main priorities of the Czech Diplomacy in the changing international context. It will also focus on the genesis of diplomatic practice of Czechoslovak and Czech foreign service and the key areas of diplomatic activities in particular historical periods.
Students will also examine distinctive aspects of diplomacy practice and cover areas including public diplomacy, human rights diplomacy, economic diplomacy, security and development as well as classical bilateral and multilateral diplomacy of smaller international actor such as the Czech Republic.