FVP:USESEA024 Inter-Ethnic Problems of Centr - Course Information

USESEA024 Inter-Ethnic Problems of Central Europe

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

prof. PhDr. Mečislav Borák, CSc. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

prof. PhDr. Mečislav Borák, CSc.
Institute of Central European Studies – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava

Prerequisites

Expert Knowledge:
Students are able to define basic terms of ethnic theory and the theory of ethnic conflicts, they know the basic terms of historical geography and are able to localize the centres of ethnic conflicts in Central Europe in the light of their past and present development. They know the main specifics of the nations and ethnic minorities in Central Europe, they are able to describe their historical development, characterize their present state and to suggest the perspectives of further developments. Students are also aware of the consequences of the world wars in the 20th century for the nations and states in Europe, and has a good grasp of the changes that emerged from the peace treaties. Students are further able to explain the main myths and stereotypes in the relationships of nations in Central Europe and to suggest alternatives of how they can be overcome. Students are able to orient themselves in the focus of the institutions and organizations in the Czech Republic and abroad that deal with the ethnic conflicts research, they know their current projects and methodology of their research. Students are also able to analyze the causes of conflict situations, to define their characteristic features and to explain the causal links of the phenomena they observe.
Expert Skills:
Students are able independently to search for, sort out, analyze, compare and evaluate facts and information necessary to formulate hypotheses on the basis of which they are able to further formulate the questions that lead to resolving concrete problems. Students are able to search for and find realistic solutions to conflict situations in the context of the latest historical events in the nations and states in the Central European space; they are able to explain the restrictions and possibilities of the factors of stability of further development. They are able independently to acquire, evaluate and use new information about further development of scientific disciplines related to their research. They are able independently to process the acquired information in adequate outputs; and are aware of and able to use methodological, formal and ethical standards of scientific work.
General Competency:
Subject graduates can apply their expert knowledge and skills in broadly conceived concrete activities since the subject is built on the interdisciplinary approach to the scientific fields of history, politology, economy, sociology and psychology, the basic knowledge of which they will gain in the course of study. Therefore, students are able to see the relationships between the problem issues in question, to compare the facts, to analyze the situations from numerous points of view and to confront their procedure with the latest findings in various scientific fields. This will enable them to join the research process more easily as that requires effective coordination of various activities.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Central European Studies (programme FVP, N6702-MTS)

Course objectives

The aim of the subject is to present students with the basic facts of general knowledge about the causes, the course and possible solutions of interethnic conflicts in Europe with the emphasis on borderline regions of Central Europe. The subject deals with the reflection of relationships between the states and nations, national and ethnic minorities, including the evaluation of national myths, stereotypes and prejudice. It explains the causes and consequences of the division of Europe in the 20th century for the nations living in the border regions; concretizes contemporary centres of interethnic tensions, especially in Central Europe, and challenges students to consider alternative solutions of further development. On the completion of the course, students will be able to orient themselves with confidence in the area of interethnic relationships in Central Europe, and will be able to assess independently the causes, development and consequences of ethnic conflicts in this region.

Syllabus

• 1. Topic related sources and literature, research institutions and projects.
  2. The basis and terms of the Ethnic Conflict Theory
  3. Biological, psychological, geographic, sociological and anthropological aspects of conflicts.
  4. Ethnic, religious, economic and political factors of conflicts.
  5. The causes and consequences of the division of Europe after the World War I and II.
  6. The specifics of interethnic conflicts in after-war Europe.
  7. Nations and ethnic groups in the states of Central Europe (contemporary situation and problems).
  8. The problems of maintaining and revitalization of the ethnic identitity of minority groups in Central and Eastern Europe.
  9. The focal points of ethnic conflicts in Central and Eastern Europe.
  10. The restrictions and possibilities of resolving ethnic conflicts.
  11. National character, myths, stereotypes and overcoming prejudice.
  12. European Union, the Euroregions and other factors of stability in Central European space.
  

Literature

required literature
• Tesař, F. Etnické konflikty. Praha: Portál, 2007. ISBN 978-80-7367-097-9. info
• TOMEŠ, J., FESTA, D., NOVOTNÝ, J. a kol. Konflikt světů a svět konfliktů. Střety idejí a zájmů v současném světě. Praha: nakladatelství P3K, 2007. ISBN 978-80-903587-6-8. info
• Naimark, N. M. Plameny nenávisti. Etnické čistky v Evropě 20. století. Praha: nakladatelství Lidové noviny, 2006. info
• BELL-FIALKOFF, A. Etnické čistky moderního věku. Praha:Práh, 2005. info
• WAISOVÁ, Š. Řešení konfliktů v mezinárodních vztazích. Praha: Portál, 2005. ISBN 80-7178-390-0. info
• ŠATAVA, L. Národnostní menšiny v Evropě. Praha: Ivo Železný, 1994. ISBN 80-7116-375-9. info

recommended literature
• ANDERSON, B. Představy společenství. Úvahy o původu a šíření nacionalismu. Praha: Karolinum, 2008. ISBN 978-80-246-1490-8. info
• ZRZAVÝ, J. Proč se lidé zabíjejí (homicida a genocida). Praha: Triton, 2004. ISBN 80-7254-518-3. info
• WANDYCZ, P. Střední Evropa v dějinách od středověku do současnosti. Praha: Academia, 2004. ISBN 80-200-0657-5. info
• RÁKOS, P. Národní povaha naše a těch druhých. Sebeklamy a předsudky jako dějinotvorná síla. Bratislava: Kalligram, 2001. ISBN 80-7149-411-9. info
• MILOSZ, C. Rodná Evropa. Olomouc: Votobia, 1997. ISBN 80-7198-279-2. info
• MAGRIS, C. Dunaj. Praha: Odeon, 1992. ISBN 80-207-0390-1. info

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course can also be completed outside the examination period.

Teacher's information

Written assignment - an essay or an expert article on a concrete topic selected from the lecture topics, to verify the ability to generalize a concrete problem and to proces an analytic or systematically analytic expert text, using an appropriate factography and methodology. Written test to verify theoretical and practical knowledge of the issues.

• Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2015, recent)
  
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