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Lecturer(s)
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Course content
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1. Introduction: The Visegrad Four as a regional framework 2. Transformation and consolidation of democracies after 1989 3. Citizenship and identity: from national to European citizenship 4. Civil society and participation in the V4 5. Parties and party systems 6. Populism and plebiscitarism in the region 7. Constitutionality, the rule of law, and judicial power 8. Media, disinformation, and polarization 9. The economic dimension of illiberalism 10. Nation, religion, and cultural issues 11. The V4 and the European Union 12. The international context and the V4's foreign policy 13. Conclusion: Possible futures for democracy in the V4
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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unspecified, unspecified, unspecified
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Learning outcomes
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The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the development of citizenship, democracy, and the phenomenon of illiberalism in the Visegrad Four countries in the post-communist period. The course combines theoretical approaches to political science with empirical analysis of political processes in Central Europe. Emphasis is placed on understanding the relationship between democratic institutions, political culture, and the current challenges facing liberal democracy. Students will gain the ability to critically analyze political changes in a regional and European context.
After completing the course, students will be able to explain the basic concepts of citizenship, democracy, and illiberalism in the context of the Visegrad Four countries. They will be able to analyze political processes and institutional changes in Central Europe using political science theories. Students will be able to compare individual V4 countries and identify similarities and differences in their democratic development. They will be able to critically work with professional literature and empirical data. They will acquire the ability to formulate their own arguments in written and oral form. They will be able to place regional developments in a broader European and international context.
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Prerequisites
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None
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
Active participation in seminars and ongoing preparation for discussions on the topics covered are prerequisites for successful completion of the course. Students will write a short seminar paper (approx. 8 standard pages) focusing on a selected issue of democracy or illiberalism in the V4 countries. The assessment includes a presentation of the results of the paper in the seminar. The final grade is awarded based on the quality of the seminar paper, the presentation, and ongoing activity.
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Recommended literature
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