Dr Vassilis Monastiriotis COW 2.05

This course is available on the MPA in European Public and Economic Policy, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MSc in EU Politics, MSc in EU Politics (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Local Economic Development, MSc in Political Economy of Europe, MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

A basic understanding of economics is desirable but not necessary.

The course examines the processes of transition, regional cooperation and European association in the SEE region and draws on theories of regionalism, economic integration and transition to assess the extent and prospects of regional cooperation and political-economic development in Southeast Europe. It explores the economic structures and political constraints of the region; the coordination of policies at the European and regional levels and the role of the EU in fostering regional cooperation and transition; developments in macro-economic performance with emphasis on trade, investment and growth; the main labour market and social-policy problems and the emerging agenda of structural reforms; the impact of the crisis and the political and economic challenges lying ahead for the countries in the region and for the region as a whole. Attention is paid to Greece as the historical EU partner in SE Europe and, more recently, as a source of instability in the region. The course relates the above issues to the question of policy harmonisation and Europeanisation of the region, in relation to the current and future waves of enlargement of the EU.

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT. 1 hour and 30 minutes of seminars in the ST.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

One 1,500 word essay, a group presentation, various weekly in-class activities (briefing notes, multiple choice quizzes etc) and a mock-exam paper.

Gianaris N (1996) Geopolitical and Economic Changes in the Balkan Countries, Praeger; Lavigne M (1999) The Economics of Transition, Ashgate; Petrakos G. and Totev S. (eds) (2001) The Development of the Balkan Region, Aldershot; Anastasakis O. and Bojicic-Dzelilovic V. (2002) Balkan Regional Cooperation and European Integration, Hellenic Observatory, LSE; Bartlett W. (2007) Europe's Troubled Region: Economic Development, Institutional Reform, and Social Welfare in the Western Balkans, Routledge; Monastiriotis V. (2008) EU Accession, Regional Cooperation and the need for a Balkan Development Strategy, GreeSE Paper No10, LSE; Bartlett W and Monastiriotis V (eds) South East Europe After the Crisis: A New Dawn or Back to Business as Usual? LSEE, London. 

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