FVP:USESEA029 Political System of the Czech - Course Information

USESEA029 Political System of the Czech Republic

Extent and Intensity

1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Guaranteed by

prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Jirásek, CSc.
Institute of Central European Studies – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava

Prerequisites

Expert Knowledge:
Students are able to characterize the development of the political systém of the Czech Republic from chronological and content point of view; to describe and explain its main aspects such as constitutional order, party membership and electoral systém, legislative proces, etc.
Expert Knowledge:
Students are able independently to apply the theories of political systems on the system of the Czech Republic; to critically assess expert literature dealing with the topic; to identify and evaluate key variables in the development of a political system, and current political events.
General Competency:
Students are able independently to analyze political systems and to apply adequate theories on them. They are able critically to analyze a given topic, to determine its main aspects and to look up and use adequate expert literature.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Central European Studies (programme FVP, N6702-MTS)

Course objectives

The aim of the subject is to familiarize students with the formation of modern political system of the Czech Republic after the 1989 November events. The first part of the subject analyzes the development of the system from chronological point of view, on the basis of election periods of the Czech National Council, or more precisely the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic. The main emphasis is put on constitutional order, election results, key political events, etc. The second part of the subject is focused on the analysis of basic parameters of a political system, especially the characteristics and development of the party system, communal and regional politics, election systems, legislative proces, foreign policy and its players. The aim of the seminars is, with students' active participation, to explore selected aspects of a political system in a greater detail, to analyze significant and current political affairs that affect the form and operation of the political system of the Czech Republic.

Syllabus

• 1. The events of November 1989; the foundation of the Civic Forum movement and the Public against Violence movement, the beginnings of new political parties or renewing formerly existing parties; the beginning of the proces of democratic transition; the 1990 elections.
  2. The crystallization of political parties from the 1990 elections; the disintegration of the Civic Forum and the formation of successor subjects. The relationship between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
  3. The 1992 elections analysis; the pillars of right-wing politics; the division of Czechoslovakia.
  4. The 1996 elections analysis; the formation of a minority government, the election programme differences between the right-wing and left-wing parties.
  5. The political situation in 1997, the fall of coalition government, the formation of the new cabinet. The 1998 election analysis, the new government and the so-called opposition treaty.
  6. The 2002 Chamber of Deputies elections; the interpretation of results; the formation of government.
  7. The referendum on EU accession and the European elections. The analysis of the Czech Parliament Chamber of Deputies elections in 2006.
  8. The fall of government i 2009 and the analysis of the Czech Parliament Chamber of Deputies elections in 2010.
  9. Communal and regional politics. The theory of the second-order elections.
  10. Electoral systems in the Czech Republic. Electoral reforms. The development of the party system.
  11. Legislative anchoring of the political system of the Czech Republic. The legislative process in the Czech Republic.
  12. The foreign policy of the Czech Republic, key players, national interests.
  

Literature

required literature
• PAVLÍČEK, V. Ústavní právo a státověda. II. díl - Ústavní právo České republiky. Praha: Leges, 2011. ISBN 978-80-87212-90-5. info
• VODIČKA, K., CABADA, L. Politický systém České republiky. Praha: Portál, 2007. ISBN 978-80-7367-337-6. info
• MALÍŘ, J., MAREK, P. a kol. Politické strany, II. díl. Brno: Doplněk, 2005. ISBN 80-7239-179-8. info
• HLOUŠEK, V., KOPEČEK, L. Konfliktní demokracie. Brno: Masarykova univerzita v Brně, 2004. ISBN 80-210-3449-1. info
• NOVÁK, M., LEBEDA, T. a kol. Volební a stranické systémy. ČR v mezinárodním srovnání. Dobrá Voda: Aleš Čeněk, 2004. ISBN 80-86473-88-0. info
• MANSFELDOVÁ, Z., TUČEK, M. Současná česká společnost. Praha: Sociologický ústav, 2002. ISBN 80-7330-009-5. info

recommended literature
• PŠEJA, P. Stranický systém České republiky. Brno: CDK, 2005. ISBN 80-7325-069-1. info
• ŠIMÍČEK, V., HLOUŠEK, V. (eds.). Výkonná moc v ústavním systému České republiky. Brno: MPÚ, 2004. ISBN 80-210-3611-7. info
• OUTLÝ, J. Strany a stát, volby a finance. Olomouc: Periplum, 2003. ISBN 80-86624-12-9. info
• HLOUŠEK, V. a KOPEČEK, L. (eds). Rudí a růžoví. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2002. ISBN 80-210-2990-0. info
• KLÍMA, M. Kvalita demokracie v České republice a volební inženýrství. Praha: Radix, 2001. ISBN 80-86031-29-2. info
• KUNC, J. Stranické systémy v re/konstrukci. Praha: SLON, 2000. ISBN 80-85850-79-6. info
• FIALA, P., STRMISKA, M. Teorie politických stran. Brno: Barrister and Principal, 1998. ISBN 80-85947-31-5. info
• ŠIMÍČEK, V.(ed.). Aktuální problémy parlamentarismu. Brno: Masarykova univerzita v Brně, 1996. info

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course can also be completed outside the examination period.

Teacher's information

Exam requirements: seminar paper, in-seminar presentation, oral exam.

• Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2018, recent)
  
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