This course offers a very contemporary look into Central and East European politics and economics. The major intellectual objective of the course is to help students engage with the countries of the region as part of the larger European project, explaining both what we can learn from their experiences with European Union integration and why enlargement has been important to the dynamics of Europe as a whole. In doing so, the course will help students form a bridge between international economics and international relations more generally and European Studies as an area concentration.
The course will focus on the period since 2004, when eight former communist countries joined the European Union, followed by two more in 2007. While the 10 new member states will be the main focus of the course, students will also be encouraged to look at the impact of enlargement on countries in the Western Balkans and Commonwealth of Independent States that have remained outside.
Students will look in depth at the 2008-09 global economic crisis as well as the ongoing Eurozone debt drama and study the different impacts and outcomes for the countries of the region. Most of the literature used in the course will be found in journals and other periodicals. The course will also give students the opportunity to conduct independent analysis using data available in the IHS Global Insight databank, providing them with hands-on experience in applied economics. While advanced knowledge of economics is not essential, some previous coursework would be helpful. Prior experience working with Excel is required.
By the end of the course, students should possess a deeper understanding of the interchange between Central and Eastern Europe and the EU, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of different countries in the region. Students will also gain practical experience in economic, policy, and political risk analysis.