Geopolitics, Europe, EU, Ideologies Syllabi

The Geopolitics of Central Europe

This is part of our Campus Spotlight on the University of Glasgow/Nankai University Joint Graduate School.

 

Overview

This course is designed to appeal to students interested in the geopolitics and international relations of the Central European region. It will provide students with the opportunity to examine the key foreign policies, geopolitical developments and international political relations of Central Europe, with specific attention given to the Visegrád countries of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. The course will review contemporary conceptualizations of Central Europe, examine regional political cooperation, European and transatlantic integration, new emerging security challenges and national foreign policy development.

 

Aims and Intended Learning Outcomes

The course aims to:

  • enable students to critically examine the place of these Central European states within regional, European and international geopolitical discourses;
  • emphasis the strategic priorities and attitudes of the Central European states towards (1) each other; (2) the EU and its member and prospective member states and regions including Germany, the Baltic States and the Western Balkans; (3) NATO and the USA; (4) states in the eastern neighbourhood region, including Russia and Eastern Partnership countries; and (5) international regions and states (e.g. China).
  • encourage the use of a comparative approach to understanding the driving forces behind national and regional positions on key geopolitical matters including European and regional integration, foreign policy development and new security challenges (e.g. energy, migration).

 

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • critically assess the impact of  transition and European integration upon the geopolitical environment of post-Cold War Central Europe;
  • compare, contrast and evaluate levels of power and status among Central European states;
  • utilise theories/perspectives of international relations to help explain how power shapes individual, regional and international political relations of Central European states;
  • comprehensively appraise the role and influence of the EU, NATO and major world powers in Central Europe;
  • describe and critically evaluate the differing and shared strategic goals of Central European states and how these inform their foreign policy priorities;
  • identify and assess the new security challenges facing Central Europe and explain how they inform international relations across the region.

 

Teaching for this class will include through a mix of weekly, 2-hour seminar sessions and via tasks set within the course online learning environment, Moodle.  Students are expected to participate in both classroom and online discussion. Seminars have a mixed format of tutor AND peer-led discussion, group-work and individual presentations.  The seminars will enable students to engage both autonomously with their learning, but also provide space for shared learning via group based discussion and opportunities to work together in small groups.

 

The course conforms to relevant SCQF Level 11 (masters) expectations and learning will be:

  • Practice relevant;
  • Research informed;
  • Personally and professionally transformative;
  • Collaborative in nature;
  • Challenge assumptions and widens perspectives; and
  • Aspire to make a positive impact on your educational experience.

 

The course is taught by Dr Eamonn Butler, Senior Lecturer in Central and East European Studies at the University of Glasgow and a member of the Glasgow-Nankai Joint Graduate School Teaching Faculty.

 

Core Reading

There is no core text for this course.  However, the following books will provide a useful background to some of the themes covered by this course.

  • Kanet, R.E. (ed.) (2005) The New Security Environment: The Impact on Russia, Central, and Eastern Europe. Aldershot: Ashgate.
  • Kuus, M. (2007). Geopolitics Reframed: Security and identity in Europe’s Eastern Enlargement. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Sabic Z. and Drulak, P. (2012) Regional and International Relations of Central Europe. Basingstoke: Palgrave

Students should be aware that the reading lists below are indicative of only a selection of the available literature and are designed to give you an idea of the range of material available.  At Master’s Level Students are encouraged to develop their own reading lists and identify relevant sources and literature.  Students should also be aware that many of the texts listed for a particular seminar topic will also be of use for other topics.

To help provide some background and theory on foreign policy and geopolitics students are encouraged to look at some of the texts on this short list in advance of taking the class.

 

Bátora, J. (2012) ‘Europeanisation of Foreign Policy: Whither Central Europe? in Sabic Z. and Drulak, P. (2012) Regional and International Relations of Central Europe. Basingstoke: Palgrave, pp.219-238.

Beasley, R., Kaarbo, J., Lantis, J.S. and Snarr, M.T. (2013) Foreign Policy in Comparative Perspective: Domestic and International Influences on State Behaviour. Sage: London. See chapters 1 and 15.

Fawn, R. (2003) ‘Ideology and National Identity in Post-communist Foreign Policies’, Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 19(3),pp.1-41.

Fedorov, Y. (2013) “Continuity and change in Russia’s Policy towards Central and Eastern Europe”, Communist and Postcommunist Studies, 46 (3), pp.315-326.

Hildreth, S.A. and Ek, C. (2008) Long Range Ballistic Missile Defence in Europe, CRS Report for Congress, Washington DC.

Gora, M. (2011) ‘The Changing Nature of Foreign Policy and International Relations in Central and Eastern Europe’, in Gora, M. and Zielinska, K. (2013) Democracy, State and Society. European Integration in Central and Eastern Europe. Krakow: Jagiellonian University

Handl, V. and Paterson, W.E. (2013) “The continuing relevance of Germany’s engine for CEE and the EU”, Communist and Postcommunist Studies, 46 (3)pp.327-337.

Kurowaka, X. and Nemeth, B. (2013) ‘The Central European Playground: Who Plays What? ‘European Geostrategy, available at:        http://europeangeostrategy.ideasoneurope.eu/files/2013/05/Long-Post-6.pdf

Marton, P. (2012) ‘The Sources of Visegrád Conduct: A Comparative Analysis of V4 Foreign Policy-making’, The Polish Quarterly of International Affairs, Issue 4/2012.

Mikulova, K. (2013) ‘Central Europe’s Velvet Power: Can It Reinvigorate EU Foreign Policy?’ World Affairs Journal, available at: http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/central-europe%E2%80%99s-velvet-power-can-it-reinvigorate-eu-foreign-policy

Mintz, A. and DeRouen K. Jr. (2010) Understanding Foreign Policy Decision Making. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Ondrejcsák, R. (2006) ‘Security policies of the Slovak Republic and Hungary – the ‘Limited Differtiation in Central Europe’, International Issues and Slovak Foreign Policy Affairs 15(3-4), pp.76-90.

Palmer, G. and Morgan T.C. (2006) A Theory of Foreign Policy. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Chapter 1 Introduction.

Trapons, J.A. (1997). “National Security Concepts in Central and Eastern Europe”, NATO Review, 6(45), pp.27-30.

Tulmets, E. (2014) East Central European foreign policy identity in perspective: back to Europe and the EU’s neighbourhood. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan. [Read all of Part 2  E-book GUL

Wyllie, J.H. (1997) European security in the new political environment: an analysis of the relationships between national interests, international institutions and the great powers in post-Cold War European security arrangements. Harlow: Longman

 

Journals which students on this course should find useful include:

  • Central European Journal of International and Security Studies
  • Communist and Post-Communist Studies
  • Europe-Asia Studies
  • East European Politics and Societies
  • European Security
  • European Union Politics
  • Debatte
  • International Security
  • Journal of Baltic Studies
  • JCMS / Journal of Common Market Studies
  • Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics
  • JCER / Journal of Contemporary European Research
  • Journal of Democracy
  • NATO Review
  • Post Communist Economies
  • Problems of Post-Communism
  • Review of International Studies
  • Security Journal
  • Security Studies

 

Students are also encouraged to make use of the Central and East European Online Library (CEEOL) database, which gives access to full text articles from over 500 journals from across the CEE region. Many of these journals are published in the English language and will be referred to throughout the course.  Access to the CEEOL database is at: https://www.ceeol.com/

Region specific journals and Magazines include:

 

Czech Republic:

  • Central European Journal of Public Policy
  • Contemporary European Studies
  • Perspectives: Review of International Affairs
  • Transitions Online

Hungary:

  • CEU Political Science Journal
  • European Integration Studies
  • The Analyst – Central and Eastern European Review
  • The Hungarian Quarterly
  • Foreign Policy Review

Poland:

  • New Eastern Europe
  • PISM Strategic Files
  • The Polish Foreign Affairs Digest
  • The Polish Quarterly of International Affairs
  • Yearbook of Polish Foreign Policy

Slovakia:

  • International Issues & Slovak Foreign Policy Affairs
  • Slovak Foreign Policy affairs
  • Yearbook of Slovakia’s Foreign Policy

 

Please note that suggested readings under each seminar topic are limited for purposes of this syllabus overview. Students taking this course will have access to a more comprehensive reading list.

 

Introduction to Course

Seminar 1
Conceptualising Central Europe and its relevancy to regional, European and international geopolitics

This seminar will provide a brief overview of the course.  This seminar is designed as an introduction which will present students with a brief history of the Central European region and its engagement with the wider Europe (including Russia/Soviet Union). It will set the scene for the course and explain why it is relevant to understand this region in the context of regional, European and international geopolitics.

Suggested Reading

  • Batt, J. (2013) “Introduction: Defining Central and Eastern Europe” in S. White, J. Batt & P.G. Lewis, Developments in Central and East European Politics 5. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
  • Drulak, P. (2017) “The West, the Centre and the East: assessing the strategic options of Central Europe”, Global Affairs, Vol 3 (1), pp.5-15.
  • Kiss, L.J. (2010) “Central Europe: ‘Imagined Spaces’ and Challenges of the 21st Century”, Foreign Policy Review, pp.76-98.
  • Zielinski, B. and Kulec, M. (2017) “Central Europe at the Crossroads: Controversies of geopolitics and Culture”, UDK 327(4-191.2)

 

 

Regional Political Cooperation and European Integration

Seminar 2
Visegrád and regional political cooperation

This seminar will examine the Visegrád group from its inception through to present formation. It will introduce students to the various functions and roles of the organisation and look at some of the recent critical literature on the group. Students will be asked to quantify the importance of the group for the Central European region and what it means for sub-regional partnerships within the European Union.

Suggested Reading

  • Dangerfield, M. (2008) ‘The Visegrád Group in the Expanded European Union: From Preaccession to Postaccession Co-operation’, East European Politics and Societies, 22, 3.
  • Dangerfield M. (2014) ‘V4: A new brand for Europe? Ten years of post-accession regional cooperation in Central Europe’, Poznan University of Economics Review, 14 (4), pp.71-90.
  • Fawn, R. (2013) ‘Visegrad: Fit for Purpose?’, Communist and Post-Communist Studies. 46 (3). Pp.339-349.
  • Toro, C., Butler, E., and Gruber, K. (2014) ‘Visegrád: the evolving pattern of co-ordination and partnership after EU enlargement.’Europe Asia Studies, 66 (3). pp. 353-358.

 

Seminar 3
European Union / Eastern partnership

This seminar will examine the relationship between the Central European States and the EU. It will cover the security rationales for EU enlargement and look at key policy areas where the EU impacts upon foreign policy concerns of the Central European States, specifically Eastern Partnership. It will also explore the EU presidencies held by CEE states and introduce some of the challenging aspects of political relations between the CEE states and the EU to emerge in recent years.

Suggested Reading

  • Ágh, A. (2014) ‘Ten Years of the EU Membership in the New Member States: Decline in democracy, good governance and competitiveness’, ECPR Joint Sessions 2014.
  • Baun, M. & Marek, D. (eds) (2013) The New Member States and the European Union: Foreign Policy and Europeanization(Basingstoke, Routledge)
  • Copsey, N. (2013) ‘The EU and Central and East European Politics’, in S. White, J. Batt & P. G. Lewis (eds) Developments in Central and East European Politics 5. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave, Ch. 5.
  • Copsey, N. and Pomorska, K (2013) ‘The Influence of Newer Member States in the European Union: The Case of Poland and the Eastern Partnership’, Europe-Asia Studies, 66(3)
  • Dangerfield, M. (2009) ‘The Contribution of the Visegrád Group to the EU’s Eastern Policy: Rhetoric or Reality’, Europe-Asia Studies, 61, 10.

 

Seminar 4
NATO / Hybrid Warfare

This seminar will examine how Central Europe dealt with its need for military security following the disbandment of the Warsaw Pact and the move to obtain NATO membership.  Students are encouraged to examine this issue from the perspective of the various Central European countries and Russia and consider how the continued enlargement of NATO to Eastern Europe has impacted relations between CEE states and Russia / Western Europe in recent years.

Suggested Reading

  • Croft, S. Redmond, J., Wyn Rees, G., Webber, M. (1999b). The Enlargement of Europe. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [chapter on NATO]
  • Lanoszka, A. (2016) ‘Russian hybrid warfare and extended deterrence in eastern Europe’, International Affairs, Volume 92, Issue 1, 1 January 2016, Pages 175–195
  • Marton, P. and Eichler, J. (2013) “Between willing and reluctant entrapment: CEE countries in NATO’s non-European missions”, Communist and Postcommunist Studies, 46 (3). Pp.351-362
  • Schimmelfennig, F (1998) ‘NATO Enlargement: A Constructivist Explanation’: Security Studies. Vol 8 (2-3)
  • Wade, J. (2004) The Enlargement of the European Union and NATO: Ordering from the Menu in Central Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

 

National Foreign Policies and Security Strategies in Geopolitical Context

Seminar 5
Poland

This seminar will examine Polish Foreign and Security Policies and how they have developed throughout the post-communist era.

Suggested Reading

 

  • The White Book on National Security of the Republic of Poland (2013) – available in Moodle. Please note you will not read all of this but you should look at it and become familiar with its objectives.
  • Longhurst, K. (2013) “Where from, Where to? New and old configurations in Poland’s Foreign and Security Policy Priorities”, Communist and Postcommunist Studies, 46 (3), pp.363-372
  • Bieńczyk-Missala, A. (2016) “Poland’s Foreign and Security Policy: Main Directions”, Revista UNISCI / UNISCI Journal, No 40 (January 2016).

 

Seminar 6
Hungary

This seminar will examine Hungarian Foreign Policy and how it has developed throughout the post-communist era.

Suggested Reading

 

Seminar 7
Czech Republic/Slovakia

This seminar will examine Czech and Slovak Foreign and Security policies and how they have developed throughout the post-communist era.

Suggested Reading

 

Specialist Case Studies – Geopolitical Challenges

Seminar 8
Migration and the EU

This seminar will debate the refugee and asylum crisis that emerged in Europe from 2015, as well as the responses of the CEE states and the EU. Specific attention will be given to recent policy developments and the reactions of the EU to resistance by the CEE states to accept refugees on a solidarity basis.

Suggested Reading

 

Seminar 9
Energy and Russia

This seminar will look at how the Central European states address matters relating to energy security. This will include relations with third parties such as Russia which remains the region’s larger supplier of energy. It will also look at aspects of merger and acquisition in the Central European energy market and why this creates a possible security dilemma for the region.

Suggested Reading

  • Butler, E. (2013) ‘Strengthening the EU’s Energy Remit: Hungary, Poland and the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2011’, International Journal of Energy Security and Environmental Research, 1, 1.
  • Butler, E. (2018) ‘Hungary’. In: Ostrowski, W. and Butler, E. (eds) Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: Russia, Transition and National Interest. (London, Routledge).
  • Butler, E. and Ostrowski, W. (2018) ‘Rethinking Energy Policy in Central and Eastern Europe’, EUCERS Reflections, volume 4, Spring 2018.
  • Dannreuther, R. (2018) ‘Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe – an IR Theoretical Dimension’. In: Ostrowski, W. and Butler, E. (eds) Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: Russia, Transition and National Interest. (London, Routledge).
  • Fawn, R. (2018) ‘Czech Republic’. In: Ostrowski, W. and Butler, E. (eds) Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: Russia, Transition and National Interest. (London, Routledge).
  • Ostrowski, W. (2018) ‘Poland’. In: Ostrowski, W. and Butler, E. (eds) Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: Russia, Transition and National Interest. (London, Routledge).
  • Petrovič, J. (2009) ‘Energy Security in the Slovak Republic’, Yearbook of Slovakia’s Foreign Policy, Issue 1/2009.
  • Rossiaud, S. and Locatelli, C, (2018) ‘Russian Energy Companies and the Central and Eastern European Energy Sector’. In: Ostrowski, W. and Butler, E. (eds) Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe: Russia, Transition and National Interest. (London, Routledge).

 

Seminar 10
China – regional and international relations

This seminar will look at how the Central European states understand China and how relations between the region and China have evolved in recent years. Specific attention will be given to the place of the CEE region in the Belt and Road initiative and the emergence of the 16+1 group of countries.

Suggested Reading

 

Photo:Photo of a map of Hungary and the capital Budapest | Shutterstock
Published on June 5, 2018.

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