19.1.
Course unit: 20th century Political Culture: Hungary in
East-Central Europe |
Nr.
of credits: 5 |
Course
type: Seminar (Practice), Nr. in the semester: 60 |
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Commitment:
term mark Requirements: There are no admission restrictions or requirements for this course. Grading: Oral reports, written essays |
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Place
of course in the curriculum: 3rd semester |
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Preliminary
study terms: — |
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Course
description: |
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By discussing
the political processes during the 20th century, the course deals
with the various scholarly approaches to Hungarian political culture. It intends
to familiarize students with those political, social and cultural features that are specific to Hungary; throughout the course various
aspects will be highlighted that most characterize the region and became inextricably connected to WWII and the following era. Since it is not
possible to discuss and read all aspects of the societies of East-Central Europe (Slovak, Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovenian), specific area will be selected according to students familiarity with the region and expertise. For example, in the Hungarian case, we will focus
on post-WWII developments
and discuss the relevance of such questions as totalitarianism, fascism, Stalinism, and the revolution of 1956. To best achieve our goal, we
will focus ont he Memento Park and/or the House of Terror Museum by taking a three-pronged approach: 1. An interdisciplinary
approach surrounding the nature and definition of political culture in the social sciences in general and political science in specific. 2. Describing the socio-economic and political development of Hungarian society following WWI; creation of dictatorship, war and revolution. 3. We will discuss
the reactions of two world wars
and the 1956 revolution by focussing on political memory and art. Throughout the course, we
will discuss not only the
theoretical and historical
concerns of these topics, but where
possible we will attempt to utilize unique
studies to highlight comparable developments in other East-Central European states. Competencies: Knowledge: Since
20th Century Political Culture: Hungary in East-Central
Europe is a course that takes place during
the 3rd semester of the MA program, students are already familiar
with basic historical, political and cultural issues and processes of Central Europe. Therefore, based on their own
experiences, cultural background, and specific reading they could bring critical
new information and ideas to engage
during lectures. Students will be able to describe
and compare political and
social trends in Central Europe, particularly
Hungary. Attitude: Lectures,
discussions and presentations
enable students to feel free to ask questions,
and engage in group discussions. Students learn how to
utilize appropriate methods for interacting
sensitively, effectively,
and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds. Autonomy and responsibility: It is understood that student will be active during classes. Assigned readings will be discussed and students should engage in small class discussions, questions and answers sessions.
Individual topics for oral presentations
can also be accepted if student
area willingly volunteer. Academic Honesty: Any cases of academic
dishonesty will be referred to the proper university authorities. All works
submitted for credit in this class must be original and may not be submitted
for credit in any other course. |
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Weekly topics and special readings: |
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1-4 Dictatorship: Fascism,
National Socialism, and Stalinism Kelly, David (1999): “The would‐be Führer: General Radola
Gajda of Czechoslovakia.” The Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 1999,
12:3, 163-177 (available on
tandfonline.com) Pető, Andrea: „Gendered Exclusions and Inclusions in Hungary’s Right-Radical Arrow Cross Party (1939-1945): A Case Study of Three Female Party Members”. Hungarian Studies Review, Vol. XLI, Nos. 1-2
(2014) (available on
epa.niif.hu). 5-6. Cold War László Kürti
(2013): Cold War happiness (in: De-centering
Cold War, https://www.academia.edu/5577913/Cold_War_Happiness_2013 Reinhold Wagnleitner: American Cultural Diplomacy, the Cinema, and the Cold War
in Central Europe (distributed
by instructor). 7-8.Mid-term exam: Oral
presentations, short essays 9-10. Revolutions: Hungary, 1956, Prague
Spring, Solidarity Milan Kundera:
The Tragegy of Central
Europe, NY Review
of Books, 1984 (distributed
by instructor) Johanna Granville
(1998): In the Line of Fire: The Soviet Crackdown on Hungary, 1956-1958. The Carl Beck Papers,
1998, No. 1307. Scott Brown: Prelude to a Divorce? The Prague Spring as Dress Rehearsal
for Czechoslovakia's ‘Velvet Divorce’. Europe-Asia Studies, 60:10, 1783-1804 (available
on tandfonline.com). 11. Socialisms and Post-socialist
Europe Ezekiert, Kubik and Vachudova
(2007): „Democracy in the
Post-Communist World: An Unending
Quest?” EEPS (http://eep.sagepub.com) 12. Memento
Park and The House of Terror Museum (specific reading list to be distributed) 13-14. Presentations. |
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Mid-term and Final: It is expected that students will not miss classes
and consultation with instructor. Students are required
to do a mid-term presentations based on specific
assigned reading (50%). At the end of the semester, students and course director select one topic for
a final presentation and essay (25+25%). In-class presentations are based on the
written essays, and can take various
forms (power point, poster, class discussion, etc). It is expected
that oral presentations are around 10 minutes each; length os short essays
are between 5-6 pages (double-spaced, Times
Roman, 12 p.). To change topics is only possible via prior agreement of instructor. Complex and difficult subjects – especially those reqiuring substantial literature search and data-analysis – may be jointly completed by two students. To do so,
students are required to obtain
prior permission from the course instructor.
Final oral presentations
will take place during the last two weeks of the course. There will be 10-15 minutes allocated for each presentation. Final essay are
due during exam period and submitted electronically. Final essays will be written in the format of MA thesis; they should be between 8-10 pages long. |
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Required Course
Reading: Klingemann,
Hans-Dieter – Fuchs, Dieter – Zielonka, Jan
(ed.): Democracy & Political Culture in Eastern Europe.
London, Routledge, 2006. (ISBN 0-203-08597-3) Kopecky, P. – Mudde,
C. (ed.): Uncivil society? Contentious politics in post-communist Europe.
London, Routledge, 2003. (ISBN: 0-415-26585-1.) Lukacs,
John: Democracy and populism. New Haven, Yale University Press, 2005. (ISBN
9780200107739) Recommended Course
Reading: Ash,
T. G.: The Polish revolution. New Haven, Yale University Press, 2003. (ISBN
13 978-0300095685) Kürti, L. – Skalnik,
P. (ed.): Postsocialist Europe. Anthropological
perspectives from home. Oxford, Berghahn Books,
2009. |
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3–5
most important obligatory and recommended literature (books, textbooks) with
the bibliographical data: |
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– Obligatory: Sharma, A. – Gupta, A. (ed.): The
Anthropology of the State. Blackwell, 2006.
http://www.antropologias.org/files/downloads/2012/11/Gupta-Sharma-Anthropology-of-the-state.pdf Klingemann, Hans-Dieter – Fuchs, Dieter – Zielonka, Jan (ed.): Democracy & Political Culture in
Eastern Europe. London, Routledge, 2006. (ISBN 0-203-08597-3) Kopecky, P. – Mudde, C. (ed.): Uncivil society?
Contentious politics in post-communist Europe. London, Routledge, 2003.
(ISBN: 0-415-26585-1.) Lukacs, John:
Democracy and populism. New Haven, Yale University Press, 2005. (ISBN
9780200107739) Stark, D. – Bruszt, L.: Postsocialist
pathways. Transforming politics and property in East Central Europe.
Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1998. (ISBN 0-521-58974-6.) – Recommended: Ash, T. G.:
The Polish revolution. New Haven, Yale University Press, 2003. (ISBN 13
978-0300095685) Kürti, L. – Skalnik, P. (ed.): Postsocialist Europe. Anthropological perspectives from
home. Oxford, Berghahn Books, 2009. Plasser, F. – Pribersky, A. (ed.): Political
Culture in East Central Europe. Aldershot, Avebury,
1996. (ISBN 1859722598) Welch, S.: The
Concept of Political Culture. London, Macmillan, 1993. (ISBN 0312091443) |
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Course
director: Dr. Kürti,
László Professor, PhD |
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Participating
teacher: — |