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Lecturer(s)
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Charvát Jan, Mgr. Ph.D., M.A.
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Course content
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1. Introductory lesson: Introduction to the subject of study. 2. Agreed collapse: the nature of the transition and its consequences for the formation of a new democracy. 3. Shall we abolish the Communists? The issue of banning the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia in 1990 and beyond. 4. Velvet divorce: The division of Czechoslovakia. 5. Institutional framework of the Czech political system and its (gradual) constitutional consolidation after 1993. 6. Parliament in the Czech political system, asymmetric bicameralism. 7. Does the Czech Republic need a Senate? The importance and role of the Senate for Czech politics. 8. Elections and electoral systems in the Czech Republic, the electoral system for the Chamber of Deputies. 9. Shortcomings of the current parliamentary electoral system and possibilities of its reform. 10. President and/vs. government? Executive power in the Czech Republic. 11. Direct election of the president: an enriching or foreign element for the Czech political system? Direct election of mayors, governors? 12. Fragile stability: the Czech party system before 2010. 13. Deformation of democracy? Opposition agreement and its consequences for Czech politics. 14. Stable fragility: the crisis of political partisanship and new party actors in Czech politics after 2010.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
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Learning outcomes
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The course acquaints students with the basic issues of studying the Czech political system. During the interpretation, a brief introduction of the institutional framework of the Czech political system and discussions on current issues of Czech politics will intermingle. The aim is to contextualize the institutional part of the interpretation with an effort to take into account the interests of students in specific topics of Czech politics.
The student is able to characterize the specifics of the Czech political system. The student is able to compare the basic institutional framework with political reality. The student is able to orientate in basic relations, procedures and mechanisms of the Czech political system (despite many media misinterpretations). The student is able to critically analyze the shortcomings of the Czech political system and consider the possibilities of its reform.
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Prerequisites
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None.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
To successfully complete the course, a presentation (description and interpretation) of a selected current problem of Czech politics and successful completion of the exam is required.
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Recommended literature
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Bureš, J., Charvát, J., Just, P., Štefek, M. Česká demokracie po roce 1989: institucionální základy české politiky. Praha, 2012. ISBN 978-80-247-4283-0.
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Gjuričová, Adéla, Kopeček, Michal (editoři). Kapitoly z dějin české demokracie po roce 1989. Praha, Litomyšl: Paseka, 2008. ISBN 978-80-7185-876-8.
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Charvát, J., Just, P. Krize politického stranictví a noví straničtí aktéři v české politice. Praha, 2016.
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Charvát, J. Politika volebních reforem v České republice po roce 1989. Praha, 2013. ISBN 978-80-247-47.
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Karel Vodička, Ladislav Cabada. Politický systém České republiky : historie a současnost. Praha, 2011.
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