Annotation: The course Current Eurasia aims to discuss the current issues and development in the region of Eurasia. During the first semester (Fall 2023), the primary attention will be given to the Russian Federation, Central Asia and the Caucasus; the second semester (Spring 2024) will focus primarily on Eastern and Central Europe.
The core part will be based on debates with teachers focused on the area or expert guest lecturers participating in the discussions. Participation in the course presumes elementary familiarity with the regional background.
Cíl předmětu - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Mgr. Anna Jordanová (13.09.2023)
Expected outcome: Students will be able to explain the current affairs in the broader inner Eurasia. Furthermore, they will familiarize themselves with a) the regional media environment b) the work of experts in the field both from academic and non-academic environments.
Podmínky zakončení předmětu - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (05.10.2023)
Grading is based on the Dean's Measure no. 20/2019: https://fsv.cuni.cz/deans-measure-no-20/2019. A good command of English is mandatory for participation in the course.
Literature (recommended for your interest and the course in general): Lillis, Joanna. Dark Shadows : Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan. Tauris, 2019. Gel'man, Vladimir. The Politics of Bad Governance in Contemporary Russia. University of Michigan Press, 2022. Shoshana Keller. Russia and Central Asia: Coexistence, Conquest, Convergence. University of Toronto Press, 2019. Anders Åslund. Russia’s Crony Capitalism The Path from Market Economy to Kleptocracy, 2019. Reeves, Madeleine et al. Ethnographies of the State in Central Asia: Performing Politics. Indiana University Press 2014.
Each student is required to follow media related to his primary state or region of interest. Any type or platform (TV, radio, online) can be used. However, the outlet should be locally relevant (not global/Western media such as International Affairs or The Independent). Media to follow (with diverse political or ideological affiliations): The list is a non-exhaustive example; students are welcome to suggest their own sources. Central Asia: Kun.uz; delo.kg; 24.kg, xabar.uz, podrobno.uz, kyrtag.kg, uz24.uz, uzdaily.uz, faraj.tj, avesta.tj, Turkmen News, AsiaPlustj.info, Eurasianet.org, RFE-RL and their local branches Caucasus: Open Caucasus Media, Caucasian Knot, Agenda.ge, Aiaaira, Civil Georgia, Imedinews.ge, Turan, Yerevan Today, Regnum, Vesti.az Russia: ITAR-TASS; Sputnik News Service, Current Time, Argumenty I Fakty, Moskovskij Komsomolets, Fortanga, Tayga.Info, MediaZone
Metody výuky - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Mgr. Anna Jordanová (13.09.2023)
The course is based on active discussion of current affairs and trends in the region, based on assigned reading and following media. External guests will be invited for the majority of lectures to provide an external insight and experience. Each lecture will consist of: a) a brief overview of the latest news from the region (based on students' media monitoring b) a presentation on the assigned topic c) a discussion with the guest lecturer
According to IMS regulations the classes take place at Jinonice building (unless new measures are introduced - see IMS website for updates). Guest researchers may join via online platforms, if necessary.
Požadavky ke zkoušce - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Mgr. Anna Jordanová (07.10.2023)
33%: Activity during the course: Students are expected to follow local media from their preferred region/state and briefly share the most interesting or relevant news during every class. Active participation in debates with experts is also expected. 33% Presentation on a debated topic: Each student is required to deliver one short presentation (15 min) during the semester on a pre-selected topic. STUDENTS WILL SEND SHORT HANDOUTS TO THE LECTURER ONE DAY BEFORE THE PRESENTATION AT THE LATEST. Registration for presentations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ybsjidDjX-TDTflR6tzWMNiFQzsPj9BQ3yrAZ8jvGyY/edit?usp=sharing 33% Final interview: Conversation with each student based on the in-class topics and other assignments during the semester.
Sylabus - angličtina
Poslední úprava: Mgr. Anna Jordanová (23.11.2023)
Note: The harmonogram may change based on the guest's availability. Suggested reading will be available at latest one week before the lecture and will reflect the latest development in the region. It is recommended to follow the readings both for the discussions in classes and for the final interview.
5.10. Introduction and organizational details. Reading: N/A.
12.10. Anna Jordanova: New presidents, old presidents. New reforms, old reforms. What is changing, what is not? Anceschi, Luca. After Personalism: Rethinking Power Transfers in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Journal of contemporary Asia, 2021, Vol.51 (4), p.660-680. Peyrouse, Sebastien. The Kazakh Neopatrimonial Regime: Balancing Uncertainties among the "Family", Oligarchs and Technocrats. Demokratizatsiya, 20.4 (2012): 345-370. Ismailbekova, Aksana. "Informal Governance, 'Clan' Politics and Corruption. In: Routledge Handbook of Central Asia, Routledge, 2021,: 87-100. Presentation1: Presentation2:
19.10. Karel Svoboda: Russian politics and economy in the time of war Gel’man, Vladimir. Authoritarian Modernization in Post-Soviet Russia : Structures, Agencies, and Choices. In: Russian Modernization A New Paradigm. Eds. Markku Kivinen, Brendan G. Humphreys. Routledge 2021. Available: https://shorturl.at/EGX26 Putin, Vladimir. Speech and the Following Discussion at the Munich Conference on Security Policy. February 10, 2007. Available: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/24034 Presentation1:Sidó Filip Presentation2:
26.10. Slavomir Horak: Georgia and its ambiguous reaction to the Russian aggression in the Ukraine Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Black sea Geopolitics. Eds. Bidzina Lebanidze. Caucasus analytical digest, no. 130, November 2022. (accessible in SIS files) Emil Avdaliani. Playing With Fire: Georgia’s Cautious Rapprochement With Russia, Carnegie, 21.07.2023. (accessible in SIS files) Alexander Atasuntsev. How Far Will the Thaw in Russia- Georgia Relations Extend? Carnegie, 19.05.2023. (accessible in SIS files) Bidzina Lebanidze & Kornely Kakachia (29 Jan 2023): Bandwagoning by stealth? Explaining Georgia’s Appeasement Policy on Russia, European Security. (accessible in SIS files) Presentation1: Saba Samushia Presentation2:Sára Osterrothová
2.11. Merhat Sharipzan: Central Asian ethnic groups in Xinjiang; factor in the regional politics and society Sharibzhanov, Merkhat. Controversies of Definition of Uyghurs By Western Media. Natives Of China's Xinjiang: Minority Or Indigenous People (Working paper: accessible in SIS files) Markey, David. China's Western Horizon Beijing and the New Geopolitics of Eurasia. Chapter 4: Central Asian insecurities. Oxford University Press, 2021 (accessible in SIS files) Presentation1: Claire Alexandre Presentation2: Po-Yen Hsu
9.11. Akram Umarov: The Afghan factor for Central Asia. Perspective from the neighbourhood. Reading: Presentation1: Alexander Purton Presentation2: Yan xiaohe
16.11. Temur Umarov: Central Asia after the Russian invasion: consequences and opportunities Reading: Temur Umarov: I would not exaggerate the scale of China’s soft power effect. CABAR Asia. Available online: https://cabar.asia/en/temur-umarov-i-would-not-exaggerate-the-scale-of-china-s-soft-power-effect Thinking Global Podcast – Bruce Pannier and Temur Umarov. IE-R. Available online: https://www.e-ir.info/2023/08/14/thinking-global-podcast-bruce-pannier-and-temur-umarov/ OR: The Red Line. Episode 84. Is the CSTO Facing Collapse? Available online: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/post/episode-84-is-the-csto-facing-collapse. Presentation1: Jakub Kukačka Presentation2: Vojtěch Michal
23.11. Oguljamal Yazliyeva: The personality cult in Turkmenistan: meanings, strategies and important features below the "absurd and funny" layer Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO). Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9QYu8LtH2E. Denison, Michael. “The Art of the Impossible: Political Symbolism, and the Creation of National Identity and Collective Memory in Post-Soviet Turkmenistan.” Europe-Asia Studies, vol. 61, no. 7, 2009, pp. 1167–87. Yazliyeva, Oguljamal. Dynamics of the Media System in Post-Soviet Turkmenistan. Journal of nationalism, memory & language politics, 2020, Vol.14 (1), p.92-110 Media and Personality Cult in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of Turkmenistan in Jeroen Van den Bosch; Adrien Fauve; Bruno De Cordier (eds.),European Handbook of Central Asian Studies: History, Politics, and Societies,(Stuttgart: Ibidem Verlag, 2021):939-946. It is accessible online at: https://www.ibidem.eu/en/the-european-handbook-of-central-asian-studies-9783838215181.html
Presentation1: María José Olea Presentation2:
30.11. Niginakhon Saida: Women, religion and societal freedoms in Central Asia Reading: Recent Attacks Spotlight Gender Violence In Kazakhstan. Majlis Podcast, November 19, 2023. Available online. OR: How Kyrgyzstan's Legal System Is Failing Women. Majlis Podcast, October 8, 2023. Available online. Kyrgyzstan's Draft Laws Push Independent Media, Civil Society To The Edge. Majlis Podcast, October 29, 2023. Available online. OR: Is Kazakhstan Preparing A Russian-Style 'Foreign Agents' Law? Majlis Podcast, October 1, 2023. Available online. Guest's work: https://thediplomat.com/authors/niginakhon-saida/. Presentation1: Presentation2: Alexander Fuss
7.12. Tomas Baranec: Armenia, Azerbaijan and the recent developments in southern Caucasus Reading: Hoch, T., & Kopeček, V. (Eds.). (2019). De Facto States in Eurasia (1st ed.). Routledge. Chapters 2.1., 3.3., 4.4. Presentation1: Phoebe Hardingham Presentation2: Hadrien Mothes
14.12. Summary and (almost) final discussion.
21.12. Jasmin Dall’ Agnola: Doing research in authoritarian context; extending surveillance in Central Asia and beyond. Reading: Dall'Agnola, Jasmin and Sharshenova, Aijan. Researching Central Asia. Navigating Positionality in the Field. Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11. Available online: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-39024-1 Dall'Agnola, Jasmin. Fieldwork Under Surveillance: A Research Note. Surveillance and Society, vol 21, no.2, 2023. Available online: https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/article/view/16455. Presentation1: Luca zucchetti Presentation2: Giada Malugani
