CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN POLITICS
POL 3154 A
PROFESSOR IVAYLO GROUEV
FALL 2014
Course schedule: Monday 11:30-13:00; Thursday 13:00-14:30
Course location: MRT 250
Office: FSS 7010
Office hours: by appointments
Telephone: (613) 562-5754
E-mail: igrouev @uottawa.ca
OFFICIAL COURSE DESCRIPTION
Analysis of the evolution of political regimes in Russia and post-Soviet, Central and East
European and Balkan states. The transformation of economic systems, the quest of markets,
and corruption. Analysis of the process of political legitimization, state-society relations, and
ethnic conflicts.
GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course covers the history and politics of Central and Eastern Europe. This includes Poland,
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, as well as the Balkans: Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania. The course
is structured in a way that will allow us to analyze key political developments influencing the history
of Central and Eastern Europe. Topics to be covered in the readings and lectures include: the
interwar period, the communist takeover; the nature of the communist system and regimes; the
performance and decline of these regimes; (from Stalinism, de-Stalinization, to perestroika and
Glasnost), the role of the intelligentsia and trade unions in shaping the political dynamics, and the
revolutions of 1989. The course will also discuss some current economic and political trends in
Central and Eastern Europe, transitions to democracy and to the market; challenges to European
integration, the ethnic conflicts and identity shifts in some Balkan states, the interplay between
different national projects and the collapse of Yugoslav Federation, as well as the 1999 NATO
humanitarian intervention in Kosovo.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The first objective of this course is to help students to develop the necessary analytical
tools for understanding and analyzing different developments/trends in Central and Eastern
Europe politics. The second objective is to help students to acquire in sufficient knowledge
Central and Eastern Europe’s historical & political context. Lastly the third objective is to assist
students to evolve intellectually and to become well informed about current political developments
in the region and to critically assess these trends.
Course Title (Course Code)
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EVALUATION
In this course there will be two tests: a mid-term (20%) and a final exam (30%). All exams will
follow the same guidelines and format. Each exam will consist of short-answer questions based on
the material covered in class and in the readings and an essay question. The essays will have to
incorporate the following: a mastery of the factual information related to the question, understanding
the concepts involved, ability to synthesize the information into a coherent theme, including proper
spelling and grammar. Reading the textbook would be necessary for doing well on the essays. The
final exam is cumulative and will be in the same format, as the mid term.
A critical essay (30%) A critical review (8-10) pages typed, double-space on topics covered in
POL 3154 A coursepack. Your analysis should make a large use of the conceptual tools you have
acquired over the course. You will get additional instructions for this assignment over the term.
Participations (10%) includes both attendance and active participation during the semester.
Summary (10%) includes a page single spaced, a clear & concise summary of the main
arguments/ideas/observations coming from selected texts from POL 3154 A coursepack. You will
get additional instructions for this assignment over the term.
Mid-term
20%
Final Exam
30%
A critical review essay
30%
Participation
10%
Summary
10%
It is recommended that students keep all graded materials for the course until after they have
received their final course grade. If there is a discrepancy concerning grades, the instructor's
recorded grade for an assignment will stand, unless the student has the actual graded assignment
with the correct grade. Students should save all typed assignments on their computer or on discs
until after grades have posted in order to ensure that no problems arise.
*Please note: The take home exam must be submitted to the professor directly, it cannot be slid
under the office door.
For useful tips on how to write a University paper, please refer to the following Website:
http://www.sciencessociales.uottawa.ca/USB/cleusbkey.swf .
REQUIRED TEXTS
POL 3154 A Coursepack, RYTEC Printing 404 Dalhousie Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9J9
Telephone: 613-241-COPY (2679)
COURSE OUTLINE
Sept.4
Introduction
Course Title (Course Code)
Presentation of the syllabus
Page 2 of 7
Sept.8
Lecture
1919 Versaille & (Re) Defining of Eastern Europe
Larry Wolfe, “Introduction”, in Inventing Eastern Europe, The Map of
Civilization on the Mind of the Enlightenment, Stanford University Press,
Stanford, 1994.p.1-16
Joseph Rotchschild, “The Interwar Background” in A Political History of
East Central Europe since World War II, Oxford University Press, New
York, 1989, p.3-25
“Report of the Crimea Conference Yalta” in Gale Stokes From Stalinism
to Pluralism, A Documentary History of Eastern Europe Since 1945,
Oxford University Press, New York,1991, p.13.- p.19; “The Percentage
Agreement,” p 31-31
Sept.11
Lecture
1945 and Beyond - A déjà vu
Winston S. Churchill: "Iron Curtain Speech", March 5, 1946
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/churchill-iron.html
Joseph Stalin: “Reply to Churchill,” 1946
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1946stalin.html
Harry Truman, “Truman Doctrine” in, Gale Stokes From Stalinism to
Pluralism, A Documentary History of Eastern Europe Since 1945, Oxford
University Press, New York, 1991 p.35-37
Andrei Zhdanov, ”The Two Camp Doctrine” in Gale Stokes, From
Stalinism to Pluralism, A Documentary History of Eastern Europe Since
1945, Oxford University Press, New York, 1991, p.35-37
Sept.15
Documentary
The Brave New World, Peoples Century, 50 min.
Sept.18
Lecture
Eastern Europe between Stalinism and Titioism
Hugh Seton Watson, “The Soviet Satellites”. In Socialist system and
Soviet satellites, Capricorn Books,1961, p.75-97.
“The Tito-Stalin Correspondence” , in Gale Stoke From Stalinism to
Pluralism, A Documentary History of Eastern Europe Since 1945, Oxford
University Press, New York, 1991, p.58-65.
Sept.22
Lecture
The Socialist system
A Brave New World or the Era of Anti-politics
Joseph Stalin (September 1938) Dialectical and Historical
Materialism
http://art-bin.com/art/ostalineng.html
Janos Konrai,” The Anatomy of the Classical System”, and “Ideology” in
The Socialist System , The Political Economy of Communism, Princeton
Course Title (Course Code)
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University Press, New Jersey, 1992, p. 33-61.
Zbigniew Brzezinski, “The Grand Failure,” in The Grand Failure, the Birth
and Death of Communism in the Twentieth Century”, Macmillan
Publishing, New York, 1989, p. p.13-50.
Sept.25
The Grapes of Wrath
Lecture
Imre Nagy, “Reform Communism”, in Gale Stoke From Stalinism to
Pluralism, A Documentary History of Eastern Europe Since 1945,
Oxford University Press, New York, 1991, p. 82-93.
Ludvik Vaculik, “Two Thousand Words to Workers, Farmers Scientists,
Artists, and Everyone, “Prague Spring” in Gale Stokes From Stalinism
to Pluralism, A Documentary History of Eastern Europe Since 1945,
Oxford University Press, New York, 1991, p.126-130.
The Brezhnev Doctrine, Dayly Pravda, September 25, 1968
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1968brezhnev.html
Sept.29
Documentary
“Oratorio for Prague”, 1968”, 26 min.
Oct.2
Lecture
“Twenty One Demands”, in Lyman H. Legters, Eastern Europe,
Transformation and Revolution 1945-1991, Documents and Analyses.
Heath and Company, Lexington, 1992, p.253-254.
Milan Kundera, The Tragedy of Central Europe, 1984
http://www.euroculture.upol.cz/dokumenty/sylaby/Kundera_Tragedy_(18).pdf
Oct.6
Oct.9
Mid Term
exam
Lecture
:
In class
The Economic challenges
Charles Gati, Chapter 4, “Economic Relations” The Block that failed,
Soviet-East European Relations in Transition, Indiana University Press,
Bloomington, 1990, p.104-135.
Lyman H. Legters, “Solidarity Program” Eastern Europe, Transformation
and Revolution 1945-1991, Documents and Analyses. Heath and
Company, Lexington, 1992, p.252-261.
Charles Gati, Chapter 5, “Military relations The Block that failed, SovietEast European Relations in Transition, Indiana University Press,
Bl-oomington, 1990, p.136-160.
Oct.20
Lecture
An experiment in Alchemy: Perestroika, Glasnost
J.F. Brown, “ Gorbachev ‘s Policy Revolution”, Surge for Freedom, The
End of Communist Rule in Eastern Europe, Duke University Press,
London, 1991, p. 45-70.
“Towards a Post- Soviet Politics?” in Stephen White, Alex Pravda and Zvi
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Gitelman ( eds.), Developments in Soviet and Post – Soviet Politics,
Macmillan, London, 1991, p. 2-14.
Oct.23
Documentary
Oct.27
Lecture
My Perestroika 87 min. 2010
1989 - The Year of the Avalanche
Graig Whitney, David Binder and Serge Shmemann, “The Opening of the
Berlin Wall” in Gale Stokes From Stalinism to Pluralism, A Documentary
History of Eastern Europe Since 1945, Oxford University Press, New
York, 1991, p.255-259.
“Arrested in Romania” in Lyman H. Legters, Eastern Europe,
Transformation and Revolution 1945-1991, Documents and Analyses.
Heath and Company, Lexington, p.462-467.
Vaclav Havel, 1990 New Year’s Day Speech” in Gale Stokes From
Stalinism to Pluralism, A Documentary History of Eastern Europe Since
1945, Oxford University Press, New York, 1991, p.260-264.
. Oct.30
Guest
spêaker
His Excellency, Mr. Milan Kollar, Abassador of the Slovak Czech
republic to Canada (to be confirmed)
Nov.3
Lecture
Nationalism in Eastern Europe
The Balkans: Cultural “Faulty Lines” versus Accommodation?
Milan Andrejevic, “The Yugoslav Crisis: No Solution in Sight” in Lyman H.
Legters, Eastern Europe, Transformation and Revolution 1945-1991,
Documents and Analyses, Heath and Company, Lexington, p. 566-578
Samuel P. Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations?” in Ivaylo
Grouev (ed.), International Organizations: Quo Vadis?, Pearson,
2010, p. 340-369.
Nov.6
Lecture
Maria Todorova, “From Discovery to Invention, From Invention to
Classification” Imagining the Balkans, Oxford University Press, New
York, 1997, p.116-139.
Michael Mandelbaum, “A Perfect Failure: NATO's War Against
Yugoslavia”, in Ivaylo Grouev (ed), International Organizations:
Quo Vadis?, Pearson, 2010, p.307-316.
James B. Steinberg, ‘A Perfect Polemic: Blind to Reality on Kosovo,’
Foreign Affairs, December 1999..
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/print/55612?page=2
Nov.10
Documentary
Nationalism, Blood and Belonging,”The Road to Nowhere – Yugoslavia”,
50 min.
Nov.13
Key note
Speaker
Major-General Lewis Wharton MacKenzie,
(leading United Nations Protection Force UNPROFOR in Yugoslavia,
to be confirmed)
Course Title (Course Code)
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Nov.17
Lecture
The Politics of Transition - Whose revolution?
Rachel Epstein, “Transnational and Actors and Bank Privatization”, in
Mitchell Orenstein, Stephen Bloom and Nicole Lindstrom, (eds.),
Transnational Actors in Central and East European Transitions,
University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, 2008, p.98-117.
David Ost, “Market Populism and the Turn to the Right”, The Defeat of
Solidarity, Anger and Politics in Post Communist Europe, Cornell
University Press, Ithaca, 2005, p.60-93.
Ray Taras, “Civil Society, Human Rights and the Shaping of Post
Communist Europe’s Identity Politics.” In Rachel May and Andrew Milton
(eds.), (Un)Civil Societies, Human Rights and Democratic Transitions in
Eastern Europe and Latin America, Lexington Books, Oxford, 2005,
p.31-49.
Nov.20
Lecture
From a velvet coup d`ètat to a velvet revolution - the case of Bulgaria`s
transition
Nov.24
Lecture
The New Europe & EU Enlargement
“The Case of the Eastern Frontier of the European Union”, in Malcolm
Anderson and Eberhard Bort (eds.), The Frontiers of the European Union,
Palgrave New York, 2001, p.149-199
John Hall and Wolfgang Quaisser, “Europe’s Eastern Enlargement
Who Benefits?”, Current History, Vol. 100. # 649, p.389 – 411.
Nov.27
Lecture
From Transition to Hegemony
Michael D. Kennedy, “From Transition to Hegemony, Extending The
Cultural Politics of Military Alliances and Energy Security “in Mitchell
Orenstein, Stephen Bloom and Nicole Lindstrom, (eds), Transnational
Actors in Central and East European Transitions, University of Pittsburgh
Press, Pittsburgh, 2008, p.188-211.
Dec.1
Revision for the final exam
FRAUD
Academic fraud is an act committed by a student to distort the marking of assignment, test and
other forms of academic evaluation. Anyone found guilty of academic fraud is liable to severe
academic sanctions. Please consult the University’s Website at the following address:
http:/www.uottawa.ca/plagiarism.pdf
Absence from an examination or late submission of an assignment
Course Title (Course Code)
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Absence from any examination or test, or late submission of assignments due to illness, must be justified;
otherwise, a penalty will be imposed. The Faculty reserves the right to accept or reject the reason offered. Reasons
such as travel, employment, and misreading the examination schedule are not usually accepted.
Beware of Academic Fraud!
Academic fraud is an act committed by a student to distort the marking of assignments, tests, examinations, and
other forms of academic evaluation. Academic fraud is neither accepted nor tolerated by the University. Anyone
found guilty of academic fraud is liable to severe academic sanctions.
Here are a few examples of academic fraud:
• engaging in any form of plagiarism or cheating;
• presenting falsified research data;
• handing in an assignment that was not authored, in whole or in part, by the student;
• submitting the same assignment in more than one course, without the written consent of the professors
concerned.
In recent years, the development of the Internet has made it much easier to identify academic plagiarism. The
tools available to your professors allow them to trace the exact origin of a text on the Web, using just a few
words.
In cases where students are unsure whether they are at fault, it is their responsibility to consult the University’s
Web site at the following address: http://www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca/eng/writing_tools.asp « Tools for
Writing Papers and Assignments ».
Persons who have committed or attempted to commit (or have been accomplices to) academic fraud will be
penalized. Here are some examples of the academic sanctions, which can be imposed:
• a grade of « F » for the assignment or course in question;
• an additional program requirement of between 3 and 30 credits;
• suspension or expulsion from the Faculty.
Last session, most of the students found guilty of fraud were given an « F » for the course and had between
three and twelve credits added to their program requirement.
For more information, refer to:
http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/info/newsletter/fraud_e.html
Course Title (Course Code)
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