NATIONALISM AND POLITICS IN EASTERN EUROPE: PS 128
Prof. Eleanor Zeff
Fall 2002, TR 11-12:15
Office: Meredith 209
Off. Hrs. MW 2-3;TR 3:30-5
email: eleanor.zeff@drake.edu
Off. Tel. # 271-3102
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Nationalism, in its various forms, ethnic, religious, civic, etc., is a powerful
and important force in todayís world. Ethnic and religious cleavages are frequently
the cause of war and violence in many countries. Students in this course will
critically analyze and discuss the meaning of nationalism. Studying nationalism
today is difficult because there are so many different interpretations. Some
researchers equate nationalism with "national sentiment," some with nationalist
ideology and language and still others with nationalist movements. There is
also the problem of defining the relation of the nation to the state and nationalism
to state patriotism. Nationalism developed first as a doctrine of freedom and
sovereignty which encouraged people (and nations) to pursue their own destiny.
More recently, the concept has become associated with the idea of historically constituted
communities of people linked together emotionally by their nationalism.
Students will first debate about the development and evolution of the concept of nationalism. Then they will use this concept and examine how it has evolved in Eastern and Central Europe where fifty years of Communist rule has recently ended and individual states are redefining their national identities and pursuing democracy and capitalism. Recent political and economic changes have been hard on the countries and people in East and Central Europe, and nationalist conflicts have developed or resurfaced during this period of societal upheaval. The assigned readings cover theories of nationalism and ethnicity as well as the politics of Eastern European nations.
COURSE GOALS:
This course is designed to encourage critical thinking, and students will do a lot
of debating and writing about the issues of nationalism and politics in Eastern and
Central Europe. This course takes an active learning approach so that by the
end of the semester you should be able to read, write and actively debate these issues
as you look for relationships. For example, you should be able to effectively
discuss how concepts, such as nationalism, relate to politics in Eastern European
countries. There will be many group activities, and you will be expected to
work effectively within these groups and to contribute to them, but you will also
be encouraged to write and defend your own individual opinions.
REQUIRED AND OPTIONAL READINGS:
1. Michael Roskin, The Rebirth of East Europe, 4th ed. Prentice-Hall, 2002.
2. J. William Derleth, The Transition in Central and Eastern European Politics, Prentice-Hall,
2000.
3. Philip Spencer and Howard Wollman, Nationalism: a Critical Introduction, Sage,
2002.
4. Jürg Steiner, European Democracies, 4th ed. Longman, 1998.
5. Ishiyama and Breuning, Ethnopolitics in the New Europe, Lynne Rienner, 1998 (optional
or you may share a book).
6. Scott and Garrison, The Political Science Student Writerís Manual, 4th ed. Prentice
Hall, (optional) (there are 2 copies of this book, earlier editions, on Reserve
in Lib.).
7. You will also need to follow current events covering nationalism and politics
in Eastern Europe. You may use daily newspapers such as the New York Times,
the Washington Post, the Christian Science Monitor, etc. or periodicals such as the
Economist or the Nation, etc. or non-commercial broadcasts such as CSpan. or National
Public Radio. We will use these sources and a few class handouts for class
discussions.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Attend class regularly (more than 2 unexcused absences may result in a
lowered
grade and multiple unexcused absences is cause for class failure.
Participate in class and group discussions and debates. Perfect attendance
is only worth a C if you donít participate in the discussions. When you have
to put your thoughts into words, you learn to think more clearly. Please read
the assigned readings before class so that you can make informed statements appropriate
for each dayís assignment. There will be some days when I ask you to write
a brief statement about the readings in order to start the class discussion.
If you miss class on these days there will be no make up for these in-class exercises.
Students with excused absences may write short papers to hand in later with permission
of the professor. 10% of your grade
2. Groups: We will be using groups frequently throughout the semester.
There will
be many occasions when you will have group discussions based on the readings or on
pertinent topics. We will use groups in several ways. I will sometimes
give you reading guides to use before and as you do the readings, and then you will
discuss these readings in your groups. On other occasions, I will give you
questions to discuss in your groups, just before you go into your group discussions.
These discussions will require written or oral group responses and careful thinking.
I will read or comment on these responses, and they will count as part of your group
grade. This group work is designed to help you be more active learners and
to articulate your thoughts better. You will also do self-assessments and comment
on the quality of work of other group members.
20% of your grade
(8%=peer grades: 12%=group work grades)
3. Quizzes, newspaper assessments and discussions: 10% of your
grade
4. A Midterm Exam: Short answer and essay: OCT. 10 20% of your
grade
5. 1 paper: around 8 pages on a research topic comparing the recent ethnic
or nationalism problems in two Eastern European countries and including footnotes
and a bibliography. Students should use the Social Science Index, Lexus-Nexus
and/or any other scholarly sources available for finding information about their
topic. Basic information about each conflict may include questions such as:
what are the similarities and differences between the situations in the two countries
you have chosen? Is one country better able to solve its nationalism problems
and if so why? Can you come to any conclusions about ways to solve nationalism
problems after your study of these two countries? Since this paper counts 20%
of your grade, you should not wait until the last minute to start it. You will
be required to hand in your topic, hypothesis, outline and bibliography 3 weeks before
the paper is due: 20% of your
grade
6. A final Take Home Exam due the last day of class: DEC. 12 20%
of your grade
COURSE OUTLINE:
Fall 2002
Week 1: Aug. 27, 29 Introduction
Class survey and discussion of the syllabus and class
Policies
Readings: Spencer and Wollman, Ch. 1
There will be no class on Aug. 29 as the Prof. will be
At the APSA conference.
Week 2: Sept 3, 5 Nationalism: Legacies and Contemporary Approaches
The class on Sept 5 will be based on group discussions
Of questions handed out in class on Sept. 3
Readings: Spencer and Wollman, Ch. 2
Always bring the book(s) we are reading to class!
Week 3: Sept 10, 12 Nationalism: Culture, Politics, Good and Bad
Emphasis on group discussions with reporters. I will
write out several questions based on the readings and give each group 2 or 3 to
discuss.
The groups will have time to answer these questions and then we
will come back together and the group reporters will present their
groupsí answers to the rest of the class.
Readings: Spencer and Wollman, Chs. 3 and 4 and
Class handouts
Week 4: Sept 17, 19 Nationalism, Democracy, Globalism and Beyond
Tues. Bring in 3 to 5 Newspaper or Journal articles which discuss
these issues in any Eastern or Central European country. We will
discuss these articles in groups.
One side will argue its merits and the other side its negatives.
Sides will be decided on Tuesday.
Readings: Spencer and Wollman, Chs. 5, 6, 7
Week 5: Sept 24, 25 Background to Eastern European Politics
Dr. Zeff will be out of town this week. There will be a
video on Eastern Europe in class on Sept. 24.You need to take notes (one page
only) on the video, and I will review these notes when I return.
It is an excellent historical document covering several East European
countries over a period of years so it will be hard to get all
the information at one sitting. We will review parts of the film again as
necessary, but at this point it will be a very good introduction
to the area. Be sure to include questions in your notes.
To make up for the Thursday class, we will have a special review
class for the midterm on Wednesday afternoon, Oct 9 in Meredith 205
at 4:30- 5:30.
Readings: Roskin, pp. 1-141: It is important to read these chapters
before you view the video as it covers much of the same material and
time periods, and you will appreciate the video much more and
be able to take better notes.
Week 6: October 1, 3 Nationalism and Communism in Eastern
Europe
Class review of the background to politics in E. Europe
Readings: Derlath, Introduction, Steiner, Chs. 9, 11, and
Class handouts
Sample Discussion Questions: 1. East Europe
as a unit of study. 2. What effects do geography and past empires have
on politics
in Eastern Europe today? 3. How did Communism
influence the development of the countries in East Europe? 4. What were
the
Communist regimes in E. Europe like? 5. How did the
Communist regimes handle ethnic conflicts and issues of nationalism? 6.
Is
ethnic conflict worse today in the democratic regimes of Eastern
Europe than it was under the previous Communist regimes? Why or
why not?
7. What are the major obstacles to establishing democracy and
stability in Eastern Europe today?
8. What are the major characteristics of nationalism in
Eastern Europe?
9. How are these characteristics different from nationalism
in the rest of Europe?
Week 7: Oct 8, 10 Democratization and Marketization in E. Europe
Readings: Steiner, Ch. 10, Roskin, Ch. 8
Oct 9 Extra review for the Midterm, Meredith 205: 4:30
Oct. 10 Midterm: Part essay and part short answer
Week 8: Oct 15, 17 Is Nationalism an Issue in Hungary?
Readings: Derlath, pp. 194-254, Ishiyama and Breuning, Ch
3.
Week 9: Oct 24 Fall recess Mon-Tuesday
Video on Slovakia on Thursday, Oct. 24
Hand in the topic, hypothesis and sample Bibliography for
your paper.
Week 10: Oct 29, 31 Politics in Poland
Readings: Derlath, ch. 4
Week 11: Nov 5, 7 Ethnopolitics and Multiethnic Societies
What is the difference between Nationalism and Ethnicity?
Readings: Steiner, pp. 268-292, Ishiyama, pp. 1-20.
Week 12: Nov 12, 14 Politics in Lesser Developed E. European Nations: Bulgaria
Readings: Derlath, Ch. 2, Ishiyama, pp. 21-50.
Nov. 14 Paper due and be prepared for an in-class discussion.
Week 13: Nov 19, 21 Politics in Russia,and former Soviet Republics
One day will be a lecture and the 2nd day will be group
discussions.
Readings: Derlath, Ch. 1
Week 14: Nov 26 Russian Nationalism:
Readings: Ishiyama, pp. 79-108.
Thanksgiving Recess begins after evening classes on Tuesday
Week 15: Dec. 3, 5 The Horrors of Yugoslavia
Readings: Roskin, ch. 9, Steiner, pp. 292-313, and class
Handout (Crawford chapter)
Week 16: Dec. 10, 12 Solving Ethnic and Nationalism Problems: Conclusions
Round Table discussion of the Yugoslav problem-Dec 10
Readings: Steiner, Ch. 15, Ishiyama, Conclusion and Roskin,
Ch. 10
Dec. 12 Hand in your take home exam. You may pick
it up at the regularly scheduled exam date. Class discussion of these papers
and concluding remarks.