University of Oregon

University of Oregon

Summer Term 2008

June 23 – July 18

PS 399 Shock Therapy, Divorce & Adoption: Eastern Europe after Communism

General Course & Contact Information:

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Instructor: Leif Hoffmann	Office: 440C in McKenzie (MCK)
Class Dates: M,T,W,R 10:00-11:50	Advising Hours: M & W Noon – 13:00 & by appointment
Classroom: 208 DEA (Deady Hall)	Phone: 541-346-4417
CRN: 42283	Email: lhoffma2@uoregon.edu

Course Description and Objectives:

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Europe is rapidly changing. On the 9^th of November 1989, the Iron Curtain fell with the opening of the Berlin Wall. Europe once divided throughout the 2^nd half of the 20^th century between a communist East and a democratic West once again started to draw closer to each other. In the last decade and a half we saw the amicable divorce of Czechoslovakia, the violent disintegration of Yugoslavia, the transition from command to liberal market economies across Eastern Europe and the expansion of the European Union and NATO by admitting new Eastern European member states.

This course is an introduction to the political, social and economic development of Eastern Europe. Although the region is not marked by clear geographical boundaries it has been subject to distinct political and economic forces. States such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania are currently undergoing dramatic political, social and economic transformations. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union itself in 1991, we are watching a new Europe emerge, one whose contours are far from clear at present, but one which is strongly marked by the enlargement of the European Union and NATO. The course will center on the revolutions of 1989 and the current process of transition to new political, economic, and national institutions. An additional focus of the course will be the similarities and differences of the countries’ historical experiences and how the respective legacies of the past helped to shape the process of democratization. Topics include, among others, the post-communist political institutions in the major Eastern European countries, the problems and successes related to the transformation of the former Communist countries to liberal market democracies, the evolution of regional institutions such as NATO and the European Union and other contemporary issues.

Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to engage questions such as:

v What is meant by Central and Eastern Europe?

v Why did we see different political outcomes in Eastern Europe?

v What do the Eastern European countries have in common? What differentiates them?

v How did Communism end in Eastern Europe?

v What has replaced the communist regime?

v How has the heritage of the communist past or strong national-identity affected the democratization process?

v What’s institutional engineering?

v What is meant by double transition?

v What role do the EU and NATO play in Central & Eastern Europe?

v How did the Eastern European countries differ during communism?

v What do the terms COMECON and Warsaw Pact refer to?

v What is meant by a return to Europe and to diversity?

v What were the challenges of the post-communist era?

v What is an ‘acquis communitaire’?

v How do the new political regimes in Eastern Europe look like?

v What are the future challenges of Eastern Europe?

Required Texts:

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Three books are required for the course. Additional readings will be made available. All the readings are REQUIRED and I retain the right to examine you on issues raised in any of the readings. A few additional readings for future study or personal interest are listed at the end of the syllabus.

Required Books:

v Drakulic, Slavenka. 1999. Café Europa : life after communism. New York: Penguin Books.

v Rothschild, Joseph, Wingfield, Nancy M. 2008. Return to Diversity: A political history of East Central Europe since WWII. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

v White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press.

All other readings will be made available on Blackboard.

Additionally, daily reading of The New York Times or another major news source, such as the BBC, is recommended and encouraged (subscriptions of the NYT available for purchase at the UO bookstore or online at www.nytimes.com). In any case, make ABSOLUTELY sure to follow the news on Central & Eastern Europe in one way or another (newspapers, TV or internet). Ignorance is not always bliss.

Expectations & Requirements:

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This is an intensive offering of this course, which involves a mixture of lectures and discussions. The lectures, required reading, and workload expectations are identical to a traditional quarter-long, ten-week course in the subject, so you should be prepared to do CONSIDERABLE reading and reviewing EVERY DAY. Throughout the term I expect you to come to class having read and thought about the assigned readings, to demonstrate an understanding of the material, actively participate in the class discussions and make thoughtful contributions that benefit the class.

Students are expected to attend all class sessions in order to receive full credit for taking this course. If a class date is problematic for you or unforeseen circumstances hinder you to attend class, please come see me. I retain the right to take class attendance.

News presentation: Each student will be required to collect and condense the latest news on one Central or Eastern European country and share the information by posting it on blackboard and be responsible to present news on Eastern Europe one time at the beginning of a class session. The posting should not exceed two pages and include the references. You are very strongly discouraged to use American media sources for this assignment (e.g. CNN, Fox news, New York Times, the Register-Guard, etc.). You will have to consult at least three different non-American media sources (e.g. Eastern European, British, Canadian, Australian newspapers) and report on at least five different news items. Should you be able to read another language, please feel free to use your language skills and consult media sources in the foreign language. Additional instructions and a list with some suggested foreign media sources publishing at least partly in English will be handed out in class. A sign-up sheet with available dates to present news to the class will also be handed out in the first class session.

Written Assignment: This assignment requires that you select a Central or Eastern European country. This can be the same as the country you might already have chosen as topic for the news presentation. You are free to choose your own research topic, but you will need to get it approved by the instructor. The written assignment should be between 6 and 8 pages long. Papers should be double-spaced with margins of 1 inch to each side and include an introduction with a clear thesis statement, a conclusion as well as a bibliography page. In addition, we are all going to work together and help each other improving our papers, discussing regularly with each other our drafts in class. Collaborative learning is very effective in improving our arguments and writing styles. Thus, be ready to comment on other students’ papers and to bring your own drafts and questions.

You will have to cite at least five academic sources, i.e. articles out of academic journals or academic books, beyond those listed in the syllabus. The use of Wikipedia is strongly discouraged beyond employing it as a starting point similar to an encyclopedia. It does not count as an academic source. Try to avoid citing lecture notes as sources. Make sure to proofread! Spell checks can and do fail. A good paper is a well-written paper which avoids grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.

Additional information regarding the written assignment will be provided in the first class session.

Midterm and Final: These exams are meant to test your knowledge of the material presented during this course. They are comprehensive and cumulative, i.e. the exams will draw on the entirety of the lectures, readings and other materials presented in the class. Details on the format of the exams will be announced in class.

Give 24 hours advance notice or formal doctor’s letter for excused absence or assignment extension. No other extensions or absences will be excused. Late assignments lose a half letter grade each day. First half-grade is deducted on day of deadline for assignments turned in after class.

Students with learning disabilities will be accommodated in accordance with university guidelines. Please speak with me during the first week of class.

Check your email every day. This is not optional at a modern university. I will often send you information on scheduling, corrections to lectures, and other messages that you need to see. It is your responsibility to check your email. Once I have sent you a message, I assume that you have that information.

Some advice: Do not hesitate to contact the instructor for assistance with your assignments or for other questions. I am there to help you to succeed and make the best out of your learning experience. In short, come see and talk to me during office hours or send me an email. Be active in class, ask questions, and share your concerns. Chances are if you are confused about an issue, there are other students in the class that share your confusion. Last but not least, find a study partner. This will pay off in the long run. You can study together, share notes, and help each other with the assignments, e.g. help each other proofread or constructively critique the structure and information provided in your assignments.

Classroom Etiquette:

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Cell phones: Please remember to turn off your cell phone before class and exams. If your cell phone rings in class it is not the end of the world, just try to turn it off as soon as possible. If you need to take an important call, please leave the room.

Please treat the other students in the course with respect. If you are participating in a debate, please criticize your opponent’s arguments rather than the opponent’s identity. If you come to class late or need to leave early, please do so in a quiet manner so as not to disrupt the classroom environment. If you need to say something to your neighbor, whisper it or write a note – those sitting nearby will thank you for your courtesy.

Grading Procedures:

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Activity	When Due	% of Grade
Participation	On-going	Varies; being quiet can’t hurt you, but strong participation can bump up your grade
News Presentation	July 14th	10%
News in-class	Varies (sign-up sheet)	5%
Written assignment	July 17th	30%
Draft feedbacks	On-going	5%
Midterm	July 3rd	25%
Final	July 17th	25%

Regrading of assignments: You may request the regrading of materials that have been graded by the instructor. Any request has to be made in writing by providing a brief explanation of why you wish to have the assignment regraded.

Incompletes: Incompletes will only be granted in exceptional emergency situations (such as death in the immediate family or serious illness – family visits, weddings, etc., do not count), when the relevant assignment(s) cannot be completed in time. In all other cases the grade will be based upon the work completed by the end of the quarter, which may result in a failing grade. The grade “I” for an incomplete may be assigned only after instructor and student have completed and signed a Contract for Grade of Incomplete which makes arrangements for the unfinished work to be completed. The Contract from is available on the Political Science website at http://polisci.uoregon.edu .

Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, Fabrication, Cheating, and Misconduct:

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Any form of plagiarism or cheating will not be tolerated. When you hand in an assignment, make sure that everything in it is your own work and that you have made the appropriate references where necessary. It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes plagiarism. Neither ignorance nor the lack of an intention to cheat or plagiarize will be considered a legitimate defense. Violations will be punished to the full extent possible. Raise any questions and concerns you have with the instructor before problems arise. To learn more about the University Policy on Academic Dishonesty, read it at http://ww.uoregon.edu/~conduct/sai.htm and check out the libraries’ description of plagiarism at http://libweb.uoregon.edu/guides/plagiarism/students/ .

Course Schedule:

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Date	Class	Assignment for Class
Week 1
June 23	Syllabus review / Introduction to class: Defining Central and Eastern Europe	White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press. Chapter 1: pp. 1 - 19
June 24	Behrman, Kevin, Russo, Gary. 2002. The fall of Communism. Oak Forest, Ill.: MPI Home Video.	Catch up with reading or read in advance
June 25	Interwar & WWII period	Rothschild, Joseph, Wingfield, Nancy M. 2008. Return to Diversity: A political history of East Central Europe since WWII. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. – Chapters 1 – 2, pp. 1 - 60
June 26	Communists coming to power & Dialectics of Stalinism and Titoism	Rothschild, Joseph, Wingfield, Nancy M. 2008. Return to Diversity: A political history of East Central Europe since WWII. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. – Chapters 3 – 4, pp. 61 - 117
Week 2
June 30	Reassertion & Stalemate	Rothschild, Joseph, Wingfield, Nancy M. 2008. Return to Diversity: A political history of East Central Europe since WWII. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapters 5 – 6: pp. 118 - 180
July 1	Annus mirabilis & the end of an era	Rothschild, Joseph, Wingfield, Nancy M. 2008. Return to Diversity: A political history of East Central Europe since WWII. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapters 7 – 8, pp. 181 - 243 White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press. Chapter 2: pp. 20 - 36
July 2	Films: Espar, David, Pagnamenta, Peter, Dor-Ner, Zvi, Macqueen, Angus, Woodard, Alfre. 1998. People's century, 1900-1999. Brave new world, 1945: Burlington, VT : WGBH Educational Foundation. MacQueen, Angus. 1998. People's century, 1900-1999. 1989, People power: The End of Soviet-Style Communism. Boston: WGBH Boston Video.	Catch up with reading or read in advance
July 3	MIDTERM	No reading required
Week 3
July 7	Engineering Markets & Constitutions	White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press. Chapters 14 - 16: pp. 229 – 275 Drakulic, Slavenka. 1999. Café Europa : life after communism. New York: Penguin Books. pp. 38-52, 60 –78, 93-99, 109-117
July 8	Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland & the other new Europeans	White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press. Chapters 3 - 4: pp. 37 – 71 Drakulic, Slavenka. 1999. Café Europa : life after communism. New York: Penguin Books. pp. 1-13, 32-37
July 9	EU & NATO membership	White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press. Chapter 7: pp. 110 – 126 Drakulic, Slavenka. 1999. Café Europa : life after communism. New York: Penguin Books. pp. 204 - 213
July 10	Film: Die Mitte	Catch up with reading or read in advance
Week 4
July 14	Western Balkans and Eastern Europeans (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova)	White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press. Chapters 5 – 6: pp. 72 – 109 Drakulic, Slavenka. 1999. Café Europa : life after communism. New York: Penguin Books. pp. 53-59, 79-84, 160-194
July 15	Leadership, Representation & Electoral Systems	White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press. Chapters 8 – 10: pp. 127 – 173 Drakulic, Slavenka. 1999. Café Europa : life after communism. New York: Penguin Books. pp. 100-108, 143-159
July 16	Parties & Civil Society	White, Stephen, Batt, Judy, Lewis, Paul G., ed. 2007. Developments in Central and East European politics. 4th ed. Durham: Duke University Press. Chapters 11 – 13: pp. 174 – 228 Drakulic, Slavenka. 1999. Café Europa : life after communism. New York: Penguin Books. pp. 14-21, 118-125
July 17	FINAL	No reading required

Recommended Readings:

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v Swain, Geoffrey, Swain, Nigel. 2003. Eastern Europe since 1945. 3rd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Useful Websites:

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