210078 VO BAK15: SpezialVO East European Studies (2020W)

In the early 1990s, the collapse of the Soviet, Yugoslav and Czechoslovak multi-ethnic states coincided with the rise of nationalist movements and the upsurge of ethnic identities. While the new post-communist elites have embarked on nation and state building, a number of ethnic conflicts flamed up in the region, most notably in the Balkans and in the Caucasus. In recent years, populist movements have emerged in East Central Europe questioning the EU integration project. The course is designed to cover different concepts of "nation" and "nationalism" by focusing on post-communist countries of Eastern Europe which have been struggling with redefining national identities, managing ethnic cleavages and adapting to new national boundaries. The course starts with an overview of the relevant theoretical approaches and a historical introduction into nationalism in Eastern Europe and Soviet nationality politics. It then addresses problems of nation building, ethnic conflicts and populism in the post-communist era, with a focus on Russia and the post-Soviet space. The lectures will be given in digital form. All contents (videos, PowerPoint presentations, literature etc.) will be provided via Moodle. To pass the course, regular attendance is highly recommended.