ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

 

EU440      Half Unit
The Balkans in Europe: Transition, Democratisation, Integration

This information is for the 2022/23 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Vassilis Monastiriotis CBG 5.05

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Conflict Studies, MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe, MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ & Sciences Po), MSc in European and International Public Policy, MSc in European and International Public Policy (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Bocconi), MSc in European and International Public Policy (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Sciences Po), MSc in Political Economy of Europe, MSc in Political Economy of Europe (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Fudan) and MSc in Political Economy of Europe (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Sciences Po). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

An examination of South East Europe from a political economy and international relations perspective, with particular emphasis on post-1989 developments. Topics include: The Balkans in Europe and Historical Legacies; the Dissolution of Yugoslavia; The Western  Balkans and economic transition; the EU and the Balkans: regionalism and economic integration; Democratisation, state-building and Europeanisation in the Western Balkans; Conditionality and the mechanics of accession; the SEE2020 strategy and the structural reforms agenda; the Balkans and other external actors.

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars totalling a minimum of 25 hours across Lent Term.  This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Lent Term, and a review session will be held at the start of the Summer Term to prepare for the online assessment.

Formative coursework

One 1,500 word essay.

Indicative reading

  • M. Todorova, Imagining the Balkans, Oxford University Press, 1997; 
  • M. Glenny, Balkans 1804-1999. Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, Granta Publishers, 1999;
  • S Woodward, Balkan Tragedy, Brookings Institute, 1995;
  • Lavigne M. (1999), The Economics of Transition, 2nd edition;
  • Petrakos G. and Totev S. (eds) (2001), The development of the Balkan region, Aldershot; S. RametThinking about Yugoslavia: Scholarly Debates about the Yugoslav Breakup and the Wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, Cambridge University Press, 2005;
  • Bartlett W. (2007), Europe's Troubled Region: Economic Development, Institutional Reform, and Social Welfare in the Western Balkans, Routledge; 
  • A. Elbasani, European Integration and Transformation in the Western Balkans: Europeanization or business as usual?,  Routledge, 2013;
  • Anastasakis O., Sanfey P. and Watson M. (eds) (2013), Defining a New Reform Agenda: paths to sustainable convergence in South East Europe, South East European Studies at Oxford, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford; EBRD (2013),
  • Stuck in Transition?, Transition Report 2013, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London.

Assessment

Online assessment (100%) in the ST.

The online assessment for this course will be administered via Moodle. Questions will be made available at a set date/time and students will be given a set period in the ST to complete the answers to questions and upload their responses back into Moodle.

Key facts

Department: European Institute

Total students 2021/22: 27

Average class size 2021/22: 13

Controlled access 2021/22: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving
  • Communication