Dr Vesselin Dimitrov CON 3.06

This course is available on the MSc in Comparative Politics, MSc in Conflict Studies, MSc in European Studies: Ideas and Identities, MSc in European Studies: Ideas and Identities (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Politics and Government in the European Union and MSc in Politics and Government in the European Union (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The course provides an analytical assessment of the transition from communism to liberal democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, with an analysis of institutional structures, party systems, government and public administration, nationalism and integration with the European Union, including the Eurozone. Topics covered include: The Communist system. Constitution-making and the development of democratic party systems. Reform of executive institutions and public administration. (Mis)management of ethnic conflict: the case of Yugoslavia. Integration with the European Union, including the Eurozone.

10 hours of lectures and 20 hours of seminars in the LT. 4 hours of seminars in the ST.

Students are required to produce two essays.

V Dimitrov, K H Goetz and H Wollmann, Governing after Communism: Institutions and Policymaking; A Przeworski, Democracy and the Market; H Grabbe, The EU's Transformative Power: Europeanization through Conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe; J Elster et al, Institutional Design in Post-Communist Societies; R Taras (Ed), Postcommunist Presidents; R Crampton, Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century, 2nd edn; G Schopflin, Politics in Eastern Europe; S White, J Batt & P Lewis (Eds), Developments in Central and East European Politics 3.

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Two-hour unseen written examination in the ST.