210135 SE M9: Eastern European Studies (2023S)

In recent years, experts have become increasingly critical of political developments in many countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This applies above all to the rule of law, freedom of the press and the protection of minorities. Hungary and Poland stand out in particular, which - despite membership in the EU since 2004 - have made a "U-turn" (Kornai 2015). The development in both countries (Hungary since 2010, Poland since 2015) came as a surprise to many observers, as they had been regarded as showcases for a transition to liberal democracy since the transformation in 1989.
At the same time, democratic innovations are increasingly being implemented in the region, mostly at the local level, with the aim of enabling more inclusion and participation of citizens.

The aim of the seminar is to give students a comprehensive insight into authoritarian practices in the region. The seminar will be structured thematically and not by country examples. The topics that will be examined in more detail are the rule of law, freedom of the press, minority rights, civil society and participation. These will be contrasted with examples of democratic innovation. The focus will be, among others, on e-governance and institutional reforms of representative democracy.

The course is divided into three blocks. In a first step, a theoretical understanding of central terms and concepts will be developed. Subsequently, the concrete situation in Central and Eastern Europe will be discussed. The role of the state socialist legacy and the transformation phase with regard to the crisis of democracy in the region will be questioned. In block two, two guest lectures are planned. The last phase will then deal with case studies chosen by the students themselves.