1. Introduction – course theme, structure and recommended literature (18.2.)

2. The year of change 1989/1990 - the Nature and the Positions of the Individual Communist Parties (25.2.) Reading: Kitschelt, H., Mansfeldová, Z., Post-Communist Party Systems: Competition, Representation and Inter-Party Cooperation,Cambridge:CambridgeUniversity Press, 1999, pp. 19-42 a 383-407.

3. Introduction to the history of communism (3.3.) Reading: Meyer, A. Communism, New York: Random House, 2013, pp. 3-51.

4. Model Case of the Italian Communist Party (10.3.) Reading: Hellman, S., „The Italian Communist Party between Berlinguer and the Seventeenth Congress“, In: Italian Politics Review, vol. 1, Ed. Leonardi, R., Nanetti, R., London: Frances Pinter, 1986. Weinberg, L., The Transformation of Italian Communism, New Brunswick: New Brunswick Press, 1995, pp. 45-94.

5. Transformation of the French and the Spanish Communists (17.3.) Reading: Perottino, M., „Change and Continuity of the French Communist Party“, in: Trajectories of the Left, ed. Kopeček, L., Brno: DSCS 2005, pp. 68-81. 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.

6. Survival Strategies of the Communist Successor Parties in Central Europe (24.3.) 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:CambridgeUniversity Press, 2002, pp. 19-69.

7. Development of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (31.3.) Reading: Handl, V. and A. Goffin, “Czech Communists and the Crisis: Between Radical Alternative and Pragmatic Europeanisation”, in March, L. and D. Keith, Europe´s Radical Left: From Marginality to Mainstream?, London: Rowman, 2016, pp. 211-230.

8. Situation in Slovakia and Poland – Development of the Party of the Democratic Left and in the Polish Successor Party (7.4.) 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.

9. Situation of Other Radical Left Parties in Europe (14.4.). Reading: March, L., „Radical Left Success before and after Great Recession“, in March, L. and D. Keith, Europe´s Radical Left: From Marginality to Mainstream?, London: Rowman, 2016, pp. 27-50.

10. Discussion with a member of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (21.4.)

11. Development of the PDS/Die Linke (28.4.) Reading: Hough, D., “From Pariah to Prospective Partner? The German Left Party´s Winding Path towards Government”, in: Left Parties in National Governments, ed. Olsen, J., Koss, M., Hough, D.,Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, pp. 138-155.

12. Closing Seminar – Discussion About the Success or the Failure of the Analysed Communist Parties (5.5.)

13. First term of the written exam (12.5.)

Up to the 1^st May the topics of the essays must be reported; the size is 5-10 pages. Deadline of these essays is 31.5. and is the condition for doing the written exam.