Brno, Czech Republic

Birth and Death of Democracy?

History has taught us that governments are fluid, able to move between dictatorships, autocracies, democracies and monarchies. This course uses the Central-European path to democracy and applies the knowledge learned to the problems of today's world. Central Europe’s political, social and economic transformation of the 1990s provides an excellent case study for students looking to better understand the complexities of forming democratic societies. By narrowing in on the experiences of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, students will analyze what did and did not work, and apply these learnings to countries undergoing transitions today.

Through the interdisciplinary lens, students deconstruct the social barriers to political and economic change. Each module compares lessons of Central Europe to current examples, enabling students to see a direct relation to what they are learning. Students come away with a better knowledge of the Central European transformation, and how politics, society, law and economics are interconnected in country transformations.

This online course seeks to not only expand students’ academic knowledge, but also seeks to pull on the strengths of having students from all over the world enrol.

Course leader

Ing. Mgr. Richard Turcsányi, Ph.D.

Course aim

Students will leave this course understanding the transformation of Central Europe and apply their learnings to other countries around the world through final projects and papers.

Fee info

EUR 700: €100 early bird application discount; additional €100 discount for partner universities