Belarus between the East and the West (PZK_213)
About Study Course
Objective
To provide knowledge on Belarus, its history, politics, economics, and its special geopolitical location affecting those. The course aims to portray interlinked nature of international, local and regional politics, using Belarus and its complex statehood as a case-study/tool.
Prerequisites
Overall knowledge of the methods and theories in the field of International Relations, as well as general knowledge of Belarus and surrounding region.
Learning outcomes
Using the knowledge provided in the study course, students will identify the challenges of the development of Belarusian history to the present day. Students will describe the domestic political problems of Belarus and the preconditions for Alexander Lukashenka to come to power in Belarus. Students will explain Belarus foreign policy challenges in a regional and international context, especially in the context of building relations with the EU and Russia. Analyze the future development scenarios of Belarus and forecast the development of Belarus' domestic and foreign policy vectors in the future perspective.
Students will read and critically analyze and evaluate the sources of information offered in the study course about the history of Belarus, domestic political processes and their impact on the country's foreign policy and future development scenarios. Students will argue and justify their position on specific issues of Belarus's domestic policy (for example, the role of 1990s in Lukashenka's coming to power) and foreign policy (for example, Belarus's relations with the EU, Russia and the United States), as well as historical developments (for example, at what stages and how Belarusian national identity has developed and evolved). Independently writing essays and reports, students will analyze alternative literature sources and gather information about different views in the context of a particular problem, offer solutions to the development of a particular problem, demonstrate the ability to draw conclusions independently and model new scenarios for Belarusian domestic and foreign policy.
Students will argue the causes of the problem (for example, Lukashenka's positions of power are determined by a marked personalization of power structures). Students will explain Belarus' domestic and foreign policy processes based on historical experience. Students will demonstrate their position on a specific issue related to Belarus' domestic and / or foreign policy.
