EU440      Half Unit
The Balkans in Europe: Transition, Democratisation, Integration

This information is for the 2021/22 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Spyridon Economides CBG 5.03 and Dr Vassilis Monastiriotis CBG 5.05

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Conflict Studies, MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe, MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe (LSE & Sciences Po), MSc in European and International Public Policy, MSc in European and International Public Policy (LSE and Bocconi), MSc in European and International Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Political Economy of Europe, MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po) and MSc in The Global Political Economy of China and Europe (LSE and Fudan). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Course content

An examination of South East Europe from a politics, political economy and international relations perspective, with particular emphasis on post-1989 developments. Topics include: The Balkans in Europe and Historical Legacies; the Dissolution of Yugoslavia; The Western  Balkans and economic transition; the EU and the Balkans: regionalism and economic integration; Democratisation, state-building and Europeanisation in the Western Balkans; Conditionality and the mechanics of accession; the SEE2020 strategy and the structural reforms agenda; the Balkans and other external actors.

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars totalling a minimum of 25 hours across Lent Term. The teaching will be delivered this year through a combination of online and on-campus formats (or if required, online only). This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Lent Term, and a review session will be held at the start of the Summer Term to prepare for the online assessment.

Formative coursework

One 1,500 word essay.

Indicative reading

  • M. Todorova, Imagining the Balkans, Oxford University Press, 1997; 
  • M. Glenny, Balkans 1804-1999. Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, Granta Publishers, 1999;
  • S Woodward, Balkan Tragedy, Brookings Institute, 1995;
  • Lavigne M. (1999), The Economics of Transition, 2nd edition;
  • Petrakos G. and Totev S. (eds) (2001), The development of the Balkan region, Aldershot; S. RametThinking about Yugoslavia: Scholarly Debates about the Yugoslav Breakup and the Wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, Cambridge University Press, 2005;
  • Bartlett W. (2007), Europe's Troubled Region: Economic Development, Institutional Reform, and Social Welfare in the Western Balkans, Routledge; 
  • A. Elbasani, European Integration and Transformation in the Western Balkans: Europeanization or business as usual?,  Routledge, 2013;
  • Anastasakis O., Sanfey P. and Watson M. (eds) (2013), Defining a New Reform Agenda: paths to sustainable convergence in South East Europe, South East European Studies at Oxford, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford; EBRD (2013),
  • Stuck in Transition?, Transition Report 2013, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London.

Assessment

Online assessment (100%) in the ST.

The online assessment for this course will be administered via Moodle. Questions will be made available at a set date/time and students will be given a set period in the ST to complete the answers to questions and upload their responses back into Moodle.

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2021/22 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the differing needs of students in attendance on campus and those who might be studying online. For example, this may involve changes to the mode of teaching delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: European Institute

Total students 2020/21: Unavailable

Average class size 2020/21: Unavailable

Controlled access 2020/21: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving
  • Communication