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This course offers a comparative and thematic approach to the study of political change and stability in Eastern Europe (broadly defined). The course is anchored in the wider comparative politics debates about democratization and authoritarianism, while also analysing specific regional temporal or spatial issues. The key themes explored in this course include: the political dynamics of change vs. stability in democratic and authoritarian systems, the causes and dynamics of the collapse of socialism; theories of democratic transition, consolidation and backsliding; mass mobilisation and revolutions, processes of diffusion, the role of elites; institutional design; the role of legacies; state-society relations, international factors; nation-and-state building; ethnic conflicts/war; and migration. By the end of this course, students will have acquired a sound understanding of the main debates, methodological choices and data sources related to the comparative study of post-socialist Eastern Europe. They will also have gained empirical case knowledge. |
