POLS 351 Eastern European Political Systems in Transition

Prof. Maurer Spring 2005

TR 9:30-10:45 AM

Peck Hall 3303

Dr. Maurer

Office: 3219 Peck

Phone: 650-3585

E-Mail: lmaurer@siue.edu

Office Hours: T R 11:00 – 11:50 and by appt.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

Exams:

Midterm 30%

Final 30%

Four In class country reports 20% (5% each)

Paper 30%

Course Description: In this course we examine the former Communist countries of East Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. The focus is on the years since the fall of Communism; however, we will first examine Marxism-Leninism and its development throughout the rule of various Soviet leaders. Using the most recent Nations in Transit reports from Freedom House, along with Global Studies, with each country we will study the degree of 1)democratization, 2) rule of law, and 3) economic liberalization. These countries are especially interesting to study since the current regimes range from very democratic (Poland, Slovenia) to highly authoritarian (Belarus, Turkmenistan).

This course will be interactive as students will keep current with the events in East-Central Europe and the former Soviet republics. We will be actively using web sites to access up to date news on East-Central Europe. You are expected to access these sites and other class assignments through my web page www.siue.edu/~lmaurer

Books (3 required: 2 rental & one purchase)

At Textbook Rental:

1) Karatnycky, Adrian, Alexander Motyl, and Amanda Schnetzer, eds. 2002. Nations in Transit 2002: Civil Society, Democracy, and Markets in East Central Europe and the Newly Independent States. Published by Freedom House. [Referred to as NIT in syllabus.]

(This book is 2 years old; the report has been updated annually. The current version is available on line at www.freedomhouse.org where you can find updated reports for 2004. Use the web site instead of the book. For your country of expertise, you absolutely must access the report on the internet instead of relying on the outdated rental book.)

2) Chicock, Mark A. 2003. Russian and Eurasian Politics: A Comparative Approach. New York: Longman. [Referred to as REP in syllabus.]

3) Also required: Available for purchase at SIUE bookstore. Will not be available until late February or early March. Goldman, Minton F., Author/Editor. 2004 Global Studies: Russia, The Eurasian Republics, and Central/Eastern Europe, 10th Edition. Guilford, Conn.: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin. [Referred to as GS in syllabus.]

Exams & Makeups:

Exams. Midterm includes map of CIS countries. Final includes map of East Central Europe.

Exams will be essay, short answer, and possible fill in the blank. Student presentations will be covered on the Final Exam.

Make-ups. Make-ups for missed exams will be permitted only if the instructor is notified in person or via a telephone call/email to her or to the Political Science Department PRIOR to the time the exam is scheduled AND if the reason for a missed exam is thought to be justifiable by the instructor.

Paper:

Paper: 8-12 pages long. Minimum 8 full pages: Minimum 5 sources: at least half of the sources must not be from the Internet. Paper MUST be written in correct APSA style (handed out in class) –no exceptions.

Four in class news updates: You must attend class with the update completed in order to receive credit, i.e. all updates will be graded IN CLASS. You must used APSA style. Assignments will be found at www.siue.edu/~lmaurer

Course Policies:

Plagiarism. Cases of plagiarism such as copying or using notes during an examination will be taken very seriously and dealt with promptly and thoroughly according to University policy. A grade of E will be given for the course when a student has plagiarized or cheated. Not siting sources correctly in the paper and news updates may verge on plagiarism.

Incomplete grades will only be assigned if the student and professor have come to such an arrangement prior to the Final Exam.

Late papers. Reduced 10% for each weekday they are late. Reduced 5% if turned in late on the same day as due date. No email submissions. Hard copies only.

Students needing special academic accommodations and who have documented disabilities should discuss these accommodations with the professor. Students with disabilities are also encouraged to visit the SIUE Disability Support Services office located in Rendleman Hall, room 1218.

Countries covered in Pols 351.

Former USSR (CIS countries):

1. Slavic Countries: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus

2. Baltic Countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia (Also Moldova)

3.Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kirgizia

4. The Caucusus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

East Central Europe:

5. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia,

6. Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania

7. The Former Yugoslavia: Slovenia, Crotia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-Montenegro, Kosovo

Course calendar: Readings and assignments are to be completed for the date specified.

Read: you can access the UP TO DATE Nations in Transit (NIT online) for Dec. 2004

at www.freedomhouse.org

Scroll down and Click on Nations in Transit.

NOTE: If national elections (either parliamentary or presidential) are held in your country of expertise during the semester, you are expected to alert the class that they are coming up and report the results.

Jan 11

Introduction

Jan. 13

- Overview of CIS & European

countries

- NIT charts/maps

- Read: Freedom House handout

“Freedom in the World 2005"

(also available online)

Jan. 18

Overview of former communist countries.

Read 2^nd Freedom House handout

“Nations in Transit 2004" (includes

Russia report - also available online)

Due: Turn in Country Choices

Jan. 20

USSR & ideology

Read: REP pp. 1-8, Ch. 3 all

Countries of Expertise assigned

Jan. 25

USSR & ideology

Read GS: 9-21 (9^th edition, handout)

Jan. 27

First In Class country update

Due beginning of class.

You must attend class to receive credit.

Feb. 1

USSR: Gorbachev &

liberalization

Read: GS: pp. 21-41 (up to Putin’s Election)

Feb 3

- Russia: Yeltsin/Putin

- Duma & Presidential elections

Read: REP Ch. 4 & Ch. 5

NIT online: Russia

Feb. 8

Reds

Feb.10

Reds

Feb. 15

CIS States

Read: REP Ch. 7

- Central Asia (presentations)

Read: GS: Art 13 (pp. 240-244)

NIT online Turkmenistan 2004

REP: Uzbekistan Ch. 12

Feb. 17

- Baltics: Latvia, Lithuania, & Estonia

Read: NIT online: Lithuania 2004

REP: Latvia, Ch. 9

Feb. 22

Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova

Read: NIT online 2004: Belarus

REP: Ukraine Ch. 10

Feb. 24

- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia

Read: NIT online 2004: Armenia

REP: Ch. 11 Georgia

Mar. 1

Exam - Midterm

Mar 3

Second Inclass update

March 7-11 Spring Break

Mar. 15

Poland

Read: GS 10^th ed: Poland

Hungary

Read: GS 10^th ed: Hungary

Mar. 17

- Czech Republic

- Slovakia

Read: GS 10^th ed: The Czech Republic & Slovakia

Mar. 22

- Former Yugoslavia:

Slovenia, Croatia,

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia,

Yugoslavia (now Serbia-

Montenegro)

Read: NIT online 2004: Yugoslavia (now

Serbia- Montenegro)

NIT online 2004 Bosnia-Herzegovina

GS 10^th ed: Former Yugoslavia

Mar. 24

- Former Yugoslavia:

Slovenia, Croatia,

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia,

Yugoslavia (now Serbia-

Montenegro)

Read: CONTINUE SAME READING

Mar. 29

- Former Yugoslavia:

Slovenia, Croatia,

Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia,

Yugoslavia (now Serbia-

Montenegro)

Read: CONTINUE SAME READING

Mar 31

Third In class country update

Apr. 5

Savior

Apr. 7

Savior

Apr. 12

Paper due at the beginning of class.

Hard copy only (no email

submisions.)

APSA style only with cover page and staple.

************************************

In class catch up.

No readings for today

Apr. 14

Albania

Read: GS: Albania

NIT online 2004: Albania

Apr. 19

Bulgaria

Read: NIT online Bulgaria

Apr. 22

Romania

Read: GS 10^th ed: Romania

Apr. 26

Fourth In class country update

Apr 28

Summary

Final exam will be held Tuesday May 3, 8:00-9:40 a.m.*

*Please check the Spring Semester schedule and the notice outside the door of your classroom to confirm this time.