East European Politics
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
Political Science Y340
Fall 2007
Professor James Toole Class Times: WF 12-1:15
Office: CM 215 Class Location: CM 210
Telephone: (260) 481-6885 Office Hours: M 11-12:30 and
Email: toolej@ipfw.edu W 1:15-2:45
Webpage: http://users.ipfw.edu/toolej/
Course Description:
Since the end of communist rule in 1989, Eastern and Central Europe have changed dramatically. After more than four decades of communism, authoritarian regimes have given way to new democracies and controlled economies to the unpredictable competition of market economics. This course examines not only the challenges faced by postcommunist Europe in the past eighteen years but also the communist history whose legacies still play an important role. While most course readings analyze the politics and history of Eastern and Central Europe, others relate some of the real-life difficulties faced by those who have lived their lives in this turbulent region of the world. This course is approved for General Education credit in Area VI (Inquiry and Analysis). It also counts toward completion of IPFW’s International Studies Certificate.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the semester, students who work hard in this class will be better able to: (1) understand the political, economic, and social dynamics that have shaped Eastern and Central Europe over the past century; (2) understand how different regimes and ideologies can affect people’s lives; (3) think critically and solve problems using knowledge and skills gained in this and previous courses; (4) apply the knowledge gained in the course across interdisciplinary boundaries; and (5) gather, evaluate, select, organize, and synthesize analytical material, particularly during the preparation and writing of the research paper.
Course Requirements:
A mid-term examination will be given about halfway through the course and a final comprehensive examination will be given at the end of the semester. Both will be in-class written exams. Examinations must be taken on the scheduled dates; make-up examinations will only be permitted at the discretion of the instructor and will only be granted in very unusual circumstances.
A short paper will be due on October 3rd and a 15- to 20-page research paper will be due on December 5th. Specific requirements for the two papers will be handed out in class. Research paper topics must be approved in advance by me. Late papers will be subject to significant penalties, to be described in written paper instructions to be handed out in class. Plagiarism will be considered a very serious offence and will be punished as severely as IPFW regulations allow. Students are strongly encouraged to use the services of the IPFW Writing Center as they plan, outline, and write their papers. The center is located in Kettler G19.
Grades will be determined as follows: mid-term exam, 25 percent of the final grade; final exam, 25 percent; short paper, 15 percent; and research paper, 35 percent. My evaluation of class attendance, participation, and overall performance may influence the final grade in very close cases.
Classes will feature both lectures and class discussions. Students should make every effort to participate in class discussions and to ask questions about things they do not understand. Students are expected to complete all listed readings before the start of each class and to come to class prepared to discuss them. Students should not expect to do well in the course unless they attend all scheduled classes. The following three books are required, and are available for purchase at the IPFW bookstore:
Kenney, Padraig. The Burdens of Freedom: Eastern Europe Since 1989. London: Zed
Books, 2006.
Milosz, Czeslaw. The Captive Mind. New York: Vintage International, 1990.
Rothschild, Joseph and Nancy M. Wingfield. Return to Diversity: A Political History of
East Central Europe since World War II. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2000.
While much of the reading listed in the syllabus is from the above three books, many readings are available only through library reserve or the Internet. Readings from library reserve are available electronically through the Helmke Library’s Reserves Express system. To access Reserves Express, visit the Library’s webpage (http://www.lib.ipfw.edu). Readings from the Internet are available through my webpage (go to http://users.ipfw.edu/toolej/Y340readings.htm). Students will be held responsible for all assigned readings, whether from the purchased books or not. All readings on the syllabus are required.
If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. Contact the Director of Services for Students with Disabilities (Walb, room 113, telephone number 481-6658), as soon as possible to work out the details. Once the Director has provided you with a letter attesting to your needs for modification, bring the letter to me. For more information, please visit the web site for SSD at http://www.ipfw.edu/ssd/.
|
Date |
Topic |
Readings |
|
8/22 |
Course Overview |
None |
|
8/24 |
The Interwar Period |
Rothschild and Wingfield, chs. 1-2 |
|
8/29 |
The New Postwar Order |
Rothschild and Wingfield, ch. 3; Karel Bartosek, “Central and Southeastern Europe” (RESERVE), pp. 394-398 only |
|
8/31 |
The Logic of Communism |
Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party (INTERNET), parts I, II, and IV only (skip “Socialist and Communist Literature”) |
|
9/5 |
Stalinism |
Rothschild and Wingfield, ch. 4; Karel Bartosek, “Central and Southeastern Europe” (RESERVE), pp. 398-437 only |
|
9/7 |
The Allure of Totalitarianism |
Milosz, preface and chs. 1-2 |
|
9/12 |
Surviving Stalinism |
Milosz, chs. 3 and 8 |
|
9/14 |
National Communism |
Rothschild and Wingfield, ch. 5 |
|
9/19 |
Confronting Communist Regimes |
Grzegorz Ekiert, The State Against Society (excerpt) (RESERVE); James Michener, The Bridge at Andau, pp. 220-227 (RESERVE) |
|
9/21 |
Late Communism |
Rothschild and Wingfield, ch. 6; Karel Bartosek, “Central and Southeastern Europe” (RESERVE), pp. 437-450 only |
|
9/26 |
The Revolutions of 1989 |
Rothschild and Wingfield, ch. 7; Timothy Garton Ash, “Berlin: Wall’s End” (RESERVE) |
|
9/28 |
No class |
None |
|
Wednesday October 3: First paper due in class
|
||
|
10/3 |
Types of Nondemocratic Regimes |
Juan J. Linz and Alfred Stepan, “Modern Nondemocratic Regimes” (RESERVE) |
|
10/5 |
The Transition and Consolidation of Democratic Regimes |
Juan J. Linz and Alfred Stepan, “Toward Consolidated Democracy” (RESERVE) |
|
10/10 |
Economic and Social Transition
|
Kenney, introduction and ch. 1; Slavenka Drakulic, Café Europa (excerpts) (RESERVE); John Higley, Judith Kullberg, and Jan Pakulski, “The Persistence of Postcommunist Elites” (RESERVE) |
|
10/12 |
||
|
10/17 |
Mid-Term Examination
|
None |
|
10/19 |
Nationalism |
Kenney, ch. 2 |
|
10/24 |
Political Institutions |
Kenney, ch. 4 |
|
10/26 |
Parties and Ideologies |
Tomáš Kostelecký, “A New Day: Parties in the Post-Communist Period” (RESERVE) |
|
10/31 |
The European Union and NATO
|
European Union, “Europe in Twelve Lessons” (INTERNET); Ivo Daalder and James Goldgeier, “Global NATO (RESERVE) |
|
11/2 |
||
|
11/7 |
The Politics of Accession |
Kenney, ch. 5 |
|
11/9 |
The Return to Europe |
Katinka Barysch, “Enlargement Two Years On: Economic Success or Political Failure?” (INTERNET) |
|
11/14 |
Eastern Germany and Romania |
The Economist, “Getting Back Together is So Hard” (RESERVE); Vladimir Tismaneanu, “Epilogue” (RESERVE) |
|
11/16 |
The Yugoslav Wars |
Misha Glenny, “Epilogue: The Balkan Vortex” (RESERVE) |
|
11/28 |
Bosnia
|
Steven L. Burg and Paul S. Shoup, “Conflict and Accommodation” (RESERVE) |
|
11/30 |
Kosovo |
P.H. Liotta, “After Kosovo: Terminal Ambiguity” (RESERVE) |
|
Wednesday December 5: Research paper due
|
||
|
12/5 |
Blame and Reconciliation |
Kenney, ch. 3; Timothy Garton Ash, “The Romeo File” (RESERVE) |
|
12/7 |
The Postcommunist Era in Retrospect |
Kenney, conclusion |
|
Monday December 10 (10:30-12:30): FINAL EXAMINATION
|
||