SSST - Introduction to BiH Politics

Introduction to BiH Politics

Political Science

International Relations

Programme(s) where module is offered

BA: Major in Political Science/International Relations

STATUS: (main, optional, Free Choice)

MAIN COURSE FOR MAJOR

FHEQ Level

Unit Value

8 ECTS

Semester taught

Spring

Pre-Requisite Modules or Qualifications

None

Module Code

PS 260

Module coordinator

Professor

Applicable From

2016

Educational Aims of the Module

Building on the previously acquired knowledge of domestic politics theories and state institutional designs, as well as general understanding of IR, the course is designed to introduce students to the main trends and concerns of contemporary BiH politics.
This includes understanding of historical processes that have shaped contemporary BiH, as well as regional and international contexts of BiH political processes.
The course seeks to provide ground for critical understanding and evaluation of current trends in BiH in the context of larger, regional and international developments, especially the challenges to liberal-democratic paradigm of democratization and statebuilding, and the complexities of international interventions.
More generally, in the overall scheme of the degree programme, the course presents the opportunity for students to employ their theoretical knowledge of politics, domestic and international, in understanding a specific area and its politics.

Module Outline/Syllabus

Introduction to the course design, overview and protocols
Bosnia and Herzegovina in Historical Perspective: The Ottoman Period
Bosnia and Herzegovina in Historical Perspective II: The Habsburg Rule
BiH in Historical Perspective III: WWI and inter-war period
Bosnia and Herzegovina in Historical Perspective IV: WWII and the Period between1945-1990
‘Politics’ of War and the Dayton Agreement
BiH Constitution and Constitutional Debates
Critical Analysis of BiH Institutional Design
Democratization: Norms, Practices and Challanges
International Community and BiH politics
BiH in the South East Europe region
Ideologies and BiH political sphere
Religion and BiH political sphere
BiH Politics Beyond Party Politics?
Concluding discussions and course revisions

Student Engagement Hours

Type	Number per Term	Duration	Total Time
Lectures
Tutorials
Total Guided/Independent Learning Hours			155
Total Contact Hours			45
Total Engagement Hours			200

Assessment Method Summary

Type	Number Required	Duration / Length	Weighting	Timing / Submission Deadline
Final exam	1	180 minutes	40%	End of semester
Individual and group presentations, class discussion, in-class text reviews.			20%
Term paper			40%

Module Outcomes

Teaching and Learning Strategy:

Course readings and class discussion. TS: 1, 2, 3, 5
Individual and group presentations and discussions on current political issues. TS: 1, 2, 3, 5
Class presentations and reviews. TS: 1, 2, 3, 4,, 5
Brief presentation by the instructor. TS: 1, 2, 3, 5
Joint class reading of newspaper articles and policy-documents on specific political concerns and discussion. TS: 1, 2, 3, 5
Individual discussions/tutorials with students as needed and detailed feedback on their assignments. TS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Assessment Strategy

Ability to critically analyze and interpret policy documents, political events and phenomena.
Ability to employ politicotheoretical and historical knowledge in analysis of specific political processes and phenomena.
Public speaking, clarity of oral argument and presentation
Clarity of written argument and presentation.
Ability of multi-perspectival analysis of political issues and of engaging with different standpoints.

Key Texts and/or other learning materials

Set text

Banac, I. National Identities (reference details to be confirmed)
Donia, R. and J. Fine, BiH: A Tradition Betrayed
Donia, R. Sarajevo: A Biography of the City
Dzaja, S. (reference details to be confirmed)
General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH
Haveric, T. Ethnos and Democracy

Supplementary Materials

Holbrooke, R. To end a War
Little, A and L. Silber, Death of Yugoslavia
Malcolm, N. A Short History of Bosnia
Mujkic, A. We, the Citizens of Ethnopolis
Rhode, D: The Endgame
Vlaisavljevic, U. Ethnopolitcs (reference details to be confirmed)

Please note

Date of Production :

Date approved by School Learning and Teaching Committee:

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SSST Subjects