FALL SEMESTER

* Please note that courses are subject to change.

Political Philosophy: An Introduction

This course covers the following topics: ethics and politics; political philosophy; ethical aspect of politics; definitions of politics; politics as war; politics as a continuation of war by other means; conflict and cooperation in politics; moral basis of democracy; egalitarianism - epistemological, moral and political; types and models of democracy; agonistic democracy; individualism: autonomy of moral/political subject; the individual in moral/political space; individualism and collectivism; human rights; rationalism in politics; freedom and equality; justice and the Good; the social contract: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Rawls; political ideologies: Utilitarianism, Liberalism; Socialism, Marxism, Libertarianism; Communitarianism; Nationalism; Conservatism, Fascism, Feminist Political Philosophy; religion and politics: Marxism and Christianity, Christianity and liberalism; the problem of relativism; political exclusivism; and the incommensurability of political ideologies.

Gender and Society

The objective of the course is to observe and critically analyze how gender as a socio-cultural category functions in the social world, i.e. how it is created, reinforced and learned in society. On the one hand, we will identify and discuss various practices through which families, schools, media and society at large work to construct and maintain gender roles. On the other hand, we will trace specific ways in which people themselves enact, transform or resist gender norms and expectations.

In particular, concepts such as the family and work will be closely examined in order to indicate their importance for, and role in, establishing the meaning of the category of gender. Furthermore, distinctions such as nature/culture, public /private or sex/gender will be defined and deconstructed. Finally, we will analyze theoretical perspectives on gender construction (e.g. doing gender, gender performativity). Throughout the course special attention will be paid to the interactions between gender and other categories such as class, sexual orientation, ethnicity or age in order to demonstrate the importance of the contextualization of the gender construction processes. Class discussions will draw both on theoretical and research-based readings and data coming from participant observations that students will be encouraged to conduct.

Communism and Democracy in Poland

This course will concentrate on the following topics:

1) the communist era (Poland between the wars, World War II and its consequences, the Stalinist and post-Stalinist regimes, civil society and the state and two political cultures;

2) the way out of Communism (the opposition against communism; the Polish Pope; the phenomenon of Solidarity; the trauma of December 13, 1981; martial law; Gorbachev and the end of the cold war; the Round-table compromise; the elections of June 4, 1989);

3) From post-communism to democracy (a challenge of democratic consolidation; the Round Table legacies; parties and elections; politics of reconciliation; Solidarity: from the government to opposition; the evolution of the political elites; and the post-communist state and or liberal democracy?)

4) Political culture and identity (religious identities; nationalism; public opinion; political participation; civil society and social capital; between freedom and order)

5) Law and politics (the Constitution; the rights of citizens; division of powers; judicial review, civil-military relations; law and order);

6) International politics (Western orientation and Eastern dilemma; the politics of alliances:  NATO and the EU; Central European cooperation; Global connections).

Polish Foreign Policy

The aim of this course is to examine Polish foreign policy in the 1990s.
In particular, students are introduced to the basic implications for Poland as an international actor that arose from the collapse of communist system in Central and Eastern Europe. After the course, students are expected to know what new challenges and threats for Poland appeared after 1989, what were the new opportunities for Polish foreign policy-makers and what remained invariable in the situation of the country. The main directions and objectives of Polish foreign policy in the 1990s will also be presented. Moreover, the relations with Poland’s most important partners, namely Ukraine, Russia, Germany, the EU and the United States, will be examined. The last objective of the course is to present the prospects of Poland in the international environment.

An Anthropological Analysis of the Transitional Process in Central and Eastern Europe

The lecture is aimed to present the specificity of an anthropological perspective taken as a tool for analyzing the transitional process in Central and Eastern Europe. Considering that the ongoing transformations are not about revolution in a sociological sense and that neither countries of Central and Eastern Europe nor a single society in the region is a homogeneous entity, various meanings, which concepts highlighting the transitional process assume, will be investigated. Ethnographies that scrutinize such categories as privatization, civil society, the new middle classes, the woman question and others will be analyzed. In this context, special attention will be given to Poland. On the one hand, differentiated ways in which particular people negotiate the transformations through the discourses and practices of their everyday life will be shown. On the other hand, similarities and differences between Poland and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe will be traced.

The Influence of Migration Processes in Contemporary Europe

The course will explore a number of aspects of the migration processes in contemporary Europe. The course will include a general introduction, the types of migration, the main flows and constituents, categories of migrants, causal factors of migration, etc. This will be done by taking into account political, social and cultural approaches to migration processes from both sending and receiving countries and from the trans-national European perspective. The issues will be examined in both the context of the national state and the European Union giving special attention the common EU integration policy toward immigrants and the role of the European law and institutions in the process of managing mass migration in Europe (the Schengen Area, EU law concerning migration, the problem of controlling the migration flows). Emphasis will be placed on the way in which mass migration influences the functioning of the state and society in the particular European states: the issue of the rights for newcomers, the politics of inclusion, and the integration of the immigrants. The problem of integration and adaptation will be also discussed, e.g. the relationships between immigrants and the host society, the problems of intolerance, stereotypes, and ethnic and racial conflicts. Current trends in migration within Central Europe and the specific case of Poland will also be explored. During the course the arising problem of refugees and asylum seekers will also be presented as well as the case of women as a special group of immigrants.

German-Polish Relations after World War II

The main goal of the course is an attempt to face and settle up the relations between Germany and Poland after World War Two. After discussing the historical background, the lectures will focus on the present German-Polish relations. The students will discuss different levels of German-Polish relations such as government policy, the activities of non-governmental organizations in this field, the role of the mass media in Germany and in Poland, and public opinion in both countries. One of the important subjects to be raised is the ‘community of interest,’ in which we will analyze various aspects from different perspectives. During the course students will confront the contemporary problems in Polish-German relations. These issues will be discussed based on publications and press articles from both Germany and Poland, so that students will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Polish point of view related to the issues mentioned.

Twentieth-Century Political Ideologies

The objective of this course is to provide students with introductory knowledge on modern and post-modern political ideologies and discuss their impact on the contemporary nation state and world order. The course is divided into three parts. The first part presents political ideologies that originated and developed within the framework of the nation state: liberalism, modern democratic theory, Marxism, socialism and communism, fascism and national socialism. The origins and political impact of these ideologies will be considered. The second part discusses the ideas and doctrines developed during the era of the Cold War and their political impact: communist and anti-communist doctrines, the ideas of detente and the new political thinking developed during the Gorbachev leadership in the Soviet Union. The third part is devoted to presenting and discussing new ideas and political theories after the fall of communism and the era of globalization and to discussing the problems and discourses of the “post-modern” theorizing in the social and political sciences towards the end of the 20th century.

The Policy of the United States of America Towards the Middle East

The region of the Middle East (in American terminology), or Near and Middle East (as it is often defined by European scholars), which was the birth place of many ancient and modern civilizations, has rarely in its history experienced times of peace and safety. For ages almost forgotten by the rest of the world, the 20th century became again an extremely important area for the vital interests of many countries, among them the United States of America. The geopolitical importance of the Middle East and the dynamism of events and changes occurring there have been brought the attention of the whole world to this specific area. The aim of this course is to analyze the policy of the United States towards the region of the Middle East and the Middle Eastern countries, first and foremost in its present aspects but also in an analysis of the historical background. The subject of interest will be, among others, the question of oil and US interests in the states of the Persian Gulf; the US-Israeli alliance and American involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conf1ict and peace process: the Iraqi issue – the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003 and their consequences; the Taliban regime of Afghanistan; US relations with individual states: the countries of Maghreb and Mashrek, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and other countries of Arabian Peninsula, and Turkey.

Individuals in Different Cultural Circles

In this course the following topics will be discussed: What is the individual? The individual’s meaning in culture, cultural identity; the influence of religious systems on conceptions of the individual; collectivism versus individualism – the relationships between dimensions of culture and a model of society; the conception of the individual in Western democracy; cultural differences – stereotypes and prejudice; the unification of the individual patterned on ideas of Western Civilization and the objections to this process; and the clash of civilizations.

Art and Identity: Jewish Culture and Visual Arts in Poland

The main aim of the course is to present the spiritual and artistic heritage of Polish Jews. During the many centuries of its existence in the Polish diaspora, Jewish culture flourished, and this process has been reflected in the production many of arts and crafts. Forms, symbolic meanings and functions of those works of art were influenced by specific features of the mosaic faith and culture, but they also reveal the relationship of the Jewish communities with their non-Jewish surrounding and therefore testify to the cultural influx that Jews had shared with their Polish neighbors. In this meaning, the art, which was also a result of the social experiences of Jewish communities, could be a way of expressing cultural, religious or national identity. During the course several important issues and terms, such as Jewish art in general, the history of Jewish symbols, the functions and artistic forms of ritual objects, the architecture of synagogues and prayer houses in Poland, ritual baths, graveyards and also the history of modern and contemporary Jewish art will be discussed in all its major artistic forms.
We will examine the effect of the surrounding (in this case – Polish) culture on the artistic creations of Jews and the validity of the Second Commandment, which prohibits any kind of artistic creation. We will also examine the nature of the Jewish artist and what makes his products ‘Jewish.’ The answers to all these questions should be provided during this course. Lectures will be supported by the presentation of illustrative material, excursions to monuments of Jewish art (e.g. synagogues, graveyards) and meetings with contemporary Jewish artists from Poland.

Polish Theater in Context

The course will present and examine Polish theater and performing arts in the broad context of both Eastern European history and other artistic activities such as visual arts, poetry, film, music and dance. The lectures on the Romantic heritage will focus on Forefather’s Eve by Adam Mickiewicz, which is a non-completed drama that offered Poles the founding myth of national identity. Later the problematization of this myth in works by Stanislaw Wyspianski, who created the Polish Necropolis and Spiritual Center, will be also discussed. The course will present the main artists who influenced theater in Poland and beyond. Stanislaw Witkiewicz (Witkacy) was a forerunner of surrealistic and absurd theatre in Europe. His contemporary, Bruno Schulz, who was a writer and graphic artist, immortalized the Polish-Jewish province. Both Witkacy and Schulz will be examined in the context of their influence on Tadeusz Kantor, one the greatest and most influential theater artists of the 20th century. Jerzy Nowosielski, probably the finest painter and spiritual thinker in Poland today, revitalized the old art of Russian orthodox icons. His powerful visions will be discussed in perspective with the early performances by the Gardzienice Theater. Special attention will be given to Jerzy Grotowski, the most famous Polish artist, anthropologist and philosopher of performing arts. During the course, many other influential actors, playwrights, composers, musicians, poets, dancers, choreographers, painters and sculptors will also be presented as well as Wroclaw's Orange Alternative and Andrzej Wajda.

Nationalism and Ethnicity in Eastern European History

The course will describe the cultural and ethnical diversity of Central and Eastern Europe from the 16th to 19th century. Particular emphasis will be placed on the ethnic diversity of two political entities and their subsequent disintegration: the early modern Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Habsburg Monarchy. In addition to an analysis of these case studies, the course will also answer the following questions: what is a nation? What are the origins of nations and nationalism? And to what extent are they modern phenomena? Nationalism will be analyzed in the framework of classic and recent sociological and anthropological works.

Opposition and Social Resistance in Poland (1944-1989)

This course covers the problem of the history of opposition and social resistance in communist Poland (1944-1989). Organized forms of anti-communist resistance (opposition) and spontaneous forms (social resistance) will both be discussed. The main problems raised will be: legal opposition during 1945-1947, armed resistance 1944-1956, the crises of the communist system in the years 1956, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1980, democratic opposition 1976-1980, “Solidarity,” martial law in Poland, and new forms of opposition during 1987-1989 (pacifist movement, Orange Alternative, etc). Some other forms of social resistance, such as political rumors and gossip, political jokes, and strikes, will also be discussed.

Transatlantic Relations: Europe and the United States as the World’s Two Greatest Powers and Their Role in the International System

The course is divided into two parts. The first part presents mutual cooperation in the area of economy and politics. We will consider whether Europe and the US are able to cooperate and overcome the differences both on the level of economic growth and in the perception of the nature of international relations. The second part focuses on the dialogue regarding the major issues facing US-European relations. This part examines problems in the following areas: transatlantic cooperation against terrorism, the prospects for transatlantic cooperation in the Middle East, trilateral US-European-Russian cooperation and new security challenges and the threats to regional stability. The main objective of this course is to show that a healthy transatlantic relationship is an essential factor for progress in organizing a stronger and safer international system.

International Relations Theory

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the basics of international relations theory. In particular, the development of the discipline, the basic notions and categories of the theory and its importance for international relations will be presented. During the second part of the course, particular theories will be presented and analyzed. Among others, these theories include crisis theory, the theory of relationships, alliances theory, international regimes theory, and end of war theory. After the course students are expected to be able to analyze international events through theoretical tools.

What Europeans Do in the World? The EU’s Response to the Globalization Process

The course is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of European Union activities performed as a response to the globalization process and its diverse dimensions. In particular, the course will cover the external policies of the EU (development, external relations, military operations, neighborhood); however some internal aspects (asylum, migration, terrorism) will also be included. Basically, the course is designed to reflect horizontal issues (human rights and democracy promotion, conflict prevention, development cooperation, humanitarian assistance, etc.); nevertheless, several regional cooperation frameworks (EU-Mediterranean, EU-Africa, Caribbean, Pacific, EU-Latin America) will be discussed. The teaching method is based on discussions, case studies and presentations.

Populism and Media Democracy

Since the mid-1990s Europe has become a scene of the development of populist parties and movements. This tendency can be observed both in the Western as well as in Eastern part of Europe. The aim of the course is to analyze this development and discuss the importance and impact populism has on European democracy. The enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and previous stages of negotiations and referenda in candidate countries constitute the so-called “populist moment,” i.e. a period of time when populist parties, movements and politicians become more active in order to mobilize the electorate, concerned about the results of changes coming in political and social life of the country. The enlargement of the EU brings with itself the polarization of public opinion and forms new levels of public discourse. A comparative approach will give a tool for wider analysis of the forms and content of populist actions and messages in Europe. The activities of populists/populist parties will be explored based on the ways and methods they use during political campaigns as parliamentary elections or referendum campaigns. As the enlargement of the EU is suggested as a “populist moment” the topics related to EU enlargement will be taken into consideration.

European Law

This course is aimed at both beginners and to students already familiar with European Integration and EC law. After an introduction to EC law (primary law and acts of secondary law, principles applied to EC law) and EC-institutions (Commission, Council, European Parliament, etc.), some further issues will be discussed, including the relations of the EU with other significant international organizations (e.g. WTO, Mercosur), legal aspects of the variety of languages, and the status of EC-civil servants. The European Court of Justice and the procedures before the Court will be discussed extensively. Students may propose their own topics in order to enrich the course and make the discussion livelier.