Course objectives: The main objective of this course is in enhancing and/or obtaining of knowledge on political processes, ideas and actions in countries of Southeast Europe, with particular emphasis on following processes: 1) national identity formation, 2) formation of political arena in selected countries of Southeast Europe, 3) interaction in the field of foreign policy and 4) conflict-resolution, peace-building and making of compromises in mutual relations at the bilateral level as well as within the regional framework (multilateral).

Enrolment requirements and/or entry competences required for the course: All students enrolled in the MA programme are eligible to enrol for this course.

Learning outcomes at the level of the programme to which the course contributes:

(1) To analyse political processes and ideas in Southeast Europe

(2) To explain the main concepts and approaches in regional studies

(3) To conceptualise and implement a simple qualitative research

(4) To explain and compare theoretical approaches to studying of Southeast Europe in social sciences and humanities.

Expected learning outcomes at the level of the course:

(1) To obtain competencies for analysing political processes and events in countries of Southeast Europe

(2) To understand contexts – historical and contemporary – within which the policies are formed in SEE

(3) To enhance knowledge of particular countries of Southeast Europe, their political actors and structures

(4) To understand processes of national-identity building (conceptualisation and restructuring) in countries of SEE

(5) To understand domestic politics and public policies in countries of Southeast Europe

(6) To understand foreign policies in countries of Southeast Europe

(7) To increase ability of students to perform individual research on political processes in countries of Southeast Europe, as well as in regional context.

Course content (syllabus):

The course is made of 15 meetings which combine lectures (2 hours) and seminars (2 hours), covering the following topics:

(1) Introduction to Politics in Southeast Europe: concepts

(2) Historical Context: nation-state formation in Southeast Europe

(3) Turkey

(4) Greece

(5) Yugoslavia and its Legacy

(6) Bulgaria

(7) Romania

(8) Albania and the Albanian Question (Kosovo)

(9) North Macedonia

(10) Montenegro

(11) Bosnia and Herzegovina

(12) Serbia

(13) Croatia and Southeast Europe

(14) Western Balkans in Contemporary Geopolitical Context

(15) Final discussion

Format of instruction: Lectures, seminars and workshops                         

Student responsibilities: 

Monitoring student work: Class attendance, essay, written exam

1. Maria Todorova, Imagining the Balkans (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997)
2. Pal Kolsto (ed), Myths and Boundaries in Southeast Europe (London: Hurst & Co, 2005)
3. Mark Mazower, Balkans. A Short History (New York: Modern Library, 2000)
4. John Lampe, Balkans into Southeast Europe (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006)
5. Dejan Jović, Yugoslavia. A State that Withered Away (West Lafayette (IN): Purdue University Press, 2009)
6. Soeren Keil (ed.), The Foreign Policies of post-Yugoslav States (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2014)

Other literature will be stated in the executive syllabus for each academic year, and for each of the topics separately.