Introduction into Central European countries' transformation: law, institutions, politics - JTB329

• Title: Introduction into Central European countries' transformation: law, institutions, politics
• Czech title: Úvod do transformace zemí střední Evropy: právo, instituce, politika
• Guaranteed by: Department of European Studies (23-KZS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 20 / unknown (20)
• Min. number of students: 5
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M.
• Teacher(s): prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

Last update: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M. (19.02.2024)

Course provides an overview of selected elements of the transformation of Central Europe (V4 states in particular) in the period 1989-2023 with special attention given to the issues of political and legal (dis)continuity and external sources of inspiration of the transformation, including impact of the EU conditionality and membership. The course will also cover current crisis of liberal democracy in the V4 countries and democratic backsliding in Central Europe.

The main topics covered in the course include:

1. Political transformation: creation of new institutions, lustration, criminal rehabilitation

2. Economic transformation: restitution, privatization and economic governance

3. Rule of law: constitutional courts and reform of the ordinary judiciary, reform of the prosecution/prosecutor's office, independence and/or effectiveness of the judiciary

Aim of the course

Last update: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M. (19.02.2024)

Objective of the course is to provide studets with:

- comparative overview of selected elements of the transformation of Central Europe (V4 states in particular) in the period 1989-2023 with special attention given to the issues of political and legal (dis)continuity and external sources of inspiration of the transformation

- undestanding of impact of the EU conditionality and membership onto political and economic transformation, including its institutional dimension

-  understanding of current crisis of liberal democracy in V4 countries and democratic backsliding in Central Europe.

Course completion requirements

Last update: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M. (06.05.2024)

Fina grade is composed of two elements

1. Analysis of a case relevant to the course (i.e. connected with political, economic or security transformation) by the European Court for Human Rights (Strasbourg), the Court of Justice of the EU (Luxembourg) or a constitutional/supreme court from a state in Central Europe (including Baltic region and Balkans). Length and format of case study: 1200 words, pdf. Case-study shall include identification of the court, procedure and parties, facts of the case, legal problem to be solved, arguments of both parties, decision of the court, its reasoning and follow-up of the case.

Max. 40 points.

Deadline: June 15, 2024 (delayed submission by June 20 is accepted but penalised by reduction of 10 points)

2.     Final essay: an analysis of current debate concerning a problem covered by the course, including democratic backsliding. The essay shall be focused on one state of the region. Choice of essay topic must be consulted (by email) by June 1, 2024. Length and format of the essay: 2000 words, pdf.

Maximum 60 points

Deadline: June 15, 2024 (delayed submission by June 20 is accepted but penalised by reduction of 10 points)

Both assigments shall be sent by email ( [e-mail] ) to the course instructor. 

 

Grading scale A-F is used, as regulated by the faculty regulation no. 20/2019 (https://fsv.cuni.cz/opatreni-dekanky-c-20/2019)

• 91% a více        => A
• 81-90%             => B
• 71-80%             => C
• 61-70%             => D
• 51-60%             => E
• 0-50%               => F

Více viz. SMĚRNICE S_SO_002: Organizace zkouškových termínů, kontrol studia a užívání klasifikace A–F na FSV UK.

 

Literature

Last update: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M. (19.02.2024)

See moodle.

https://dl2.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=4428

Teaching methods

Last update: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M. (19.02.2024)

Lecture with elements of Socratic method. Insensive use of case-law and practical examples.

Requirements to the exam

Last update: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M. (04.02.2024)

Final grade is composed of two elements: 1. Case-law analysis (30%) and 2. Final essay (70%)

1.     Case-law analysis: case decided (after 1990) by the European Court of Human Rights (Strasbourg), the Court of Justice of the EU (Luxembourg) or a constitutional/supreme court. Case must be connected to Visegrad or Baltic state, or Balkans. Case should be of “constitutional” nature, i.e. going beyond issues of only “technical” application of law. Length and format of case study: 1000 words, pdf. Case-study shall include facts of the case, legal problem to be solved, arguments of both parties, decision of the court, its reasoning and follow-up of the case. Deadline: June 15, 2024 (delayed submission until June 25 is accepted by penalised by reduction of 10 points)

2.     Memorandum for a government of a hypothetical state on a structural or policy problem, reflecting the experience of transforation in Central Europe. 2500 words, pdf format.  Deadline: June 15, 2024 (delayed submission until June 25 is accepted by penalised by reduction of 10 points)

Grading uses scale A-F, in accordance of the respective regulations adopted by the FSV.

·       A: 100-91 points

·       B: 90-81 points

·       C: 80-71 points

·       D: 70-61 points

·       E: 60-51 points

.       F : 0 - 50 points

 

 

 

Syllabus

Last update: prof. JUDr. PhDr. Ivo Šlosarčík, Ph.D., LL.M. (02.05.2024)

Syllabus

Structure of lectures:

 1.1. Old political regimes of Central Europe 21.2.2024

1.2. Transformation process and its (non)European context 28.2.2024

2.1. Political transformation. Executive and Parliament 6.3.2024

2.2. Political transformation. Judiciary 13.3.2024

20.3.2024 no class

3.1. Transitional justice I. Lustrations and symbolic gestures 27.3.2024

3.2 Transitional justice II. Criminal law and rehabilitations 3.4.2024

4.1.  Economic Transition I 29.3.2023  

4.2. Economic Transformation II 10.4.2024

4.3. Economic Transformation III 17.4..2024

5. Security architecture 24.4.2024

6. Conclusion: Development after 2010: Transformation 2.1.?  15.5.2024

Detailed overview of classes available in moodle.

https://dl2.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=4428