Post-Communist Civil Society: Comparative Perspective

2023/2024

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

6

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Департамент политологии и международных отношений

Статус:

Курс по выбору

Когда читается:

1-й курс, 3, 4 модуль

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course is designed to provide students with the necessary theoretical and empirical background for the study of the Post-communist civil society. It will cover a broad set of issues including: conceptual discussion of the civil society theories; civil society and democracy, democratisation and development; concept and practices of “illiberal” civil society; the political implications of contemporary social movements; and the evolution of civil space in major segments of the Post-communist world.

Learning Objectives

• The purpose of the course is to provide students with the comprehensive knowledge of the conceptual history of the civil society and its development in post-communist states.
• The purpose of this course is to provide students with better understanding of activities of various non-state and non-market actors and their role in modern pot-communist societies.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate a good knowledge of the theoretical framework of comparative Civil Society studies and debate on Postcommunist civil society - the assumptions, 'tools' and limitations.
• Demonstrate how similar processes may work in entirely different social and institutional settings.
• Gain deep understanding of the civil society concept
• Understand and contribute to policy making debates, related to the Russian political process and governance.

Course Contents

• Civil society and modern political transformations in the post-Soviet region
• Civil Society in former Soviet Block states

Assessment Elements

• Presentations by students
• Essay
• Exam
  The exam is in the written form.
• In-class participation

Interim Assessment

• 2023/2024 4th module
  0.25 * Essay + 0.25 * Exam + 0.25 * In-class participation + 0.25 * Presentations by students

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Beichelt, T. (2014). Civil Society and Democracy Promotion. [Basingstoke]: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=786577
• Edwards, M. (2014). Civil Society (Vol. 3rd ed). Hoboken: Polity. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1102045
• McFaul, M. (1997). Transition without consolidation. Freedom Review, 28(1), 30. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=f5h&AN=9703216954
• Mercer, C. (2002). NGOs, civil society and democratization: a critical review of the literature. Progress in Development Studies, 2(1), 5–22. https://doi.org/10.1191/1464993402ps027ra

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Boeri, T., Mishra, P., Papageorgiou, C., & Spilimbergo, A. (2018). Populism and Civil Society. [N.p.]: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1949177
• Tilly, C., & Tarrow, S. G. (2015). Contentious Politics (Vol. Second edition, fully revised and updated). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1046483
• Transactional activism without transactions: network perspective on anti-corruption activism in the Czech Republic. (2017). Social Movement Studies, 17, 203–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2017.1404904
• Ziegler, C. E. (2016). Great powers, civil society and authoritarian diffusion in Central Asia. Central Asian Survey, 35(4), 549–569. https://doi.org/10.1080/02634937.2016.1228608

Authors

• GONCHAROV DMITRIY VLADIMIROVICH