Malmö universitet - Utbildningsinfo

Course syllabus autumn 2013

Title

Post-Soviet Caucasus: Politics, Civil Society, Economy

Swedish title

Post-Soviet Caucasus: Politics, Civil Society, Economy

Course code

IM231L

Credits

15 credits

Grading scale

UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)

Language of instruction

English

Decision-making body

Faculty of Culture and Society

Syllabus approval date

2012-03-01

Syllabus valid from

2012-09-03

Entry requirements

General entry requirements + English B.

Merit rating is calculated based on Swedish upper secondary grades achieved, according to specific entry requirement 6/A6.

Level

Basic level

Main field

No main field.

Progression level

G1N

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

The course can be included as a part of a general degree at undergradate level.

Course objectives

The course offers an introduction to the Caucasus region, including geography, its ethnic groups and languages, demographic dynamics, history and recent political developments. It focuses on problems within the Caucasus region related to the transition from Soviet power to democracy and market relations in the Post-Soviet period.

Course contents

The course is divided into two 7,5 ECTS modules:

1. Introduction to the Caucasus Region

2. Post-Soviet developments in the Caucasus

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

After finishing the course, the student shall:

have a basic knowledge of the Caucasus region, including its geography, ethnic composition, main languages, religions, demographic distribution, political systems, economy, administrative division.
demonstrate understanding of present political, socio-economic and cultural developments in the Caucasus region;
demonstrate knowledge of existent research on topical empirical issues related to the Post-Soviet development in the Caucasus region.

Skills and abilities

After finishing the course, the student shall be able to:

apply obtained knowledge of the geographical, political, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the Caucasus region as tools in further analyses of empirical reports as well as theoretical works on the region.
interpret current political, socio-economic and cultural processes in the region.

Critical skills and approach

After finishing the course, the student shall:

Demonstrate an ability to evaluate sources and assess bias in material used as empirical evidence.

Learning activities

online lectures
online forum discussions
mandatory assignments
interactive exercises
independent reading
individual studies

Assessment

Assessments are based on mandatory assignments, group or individual on-line presentations and essay questions.

There are two resubmission possibilities for failed assignments/ presentation/ essay questions. Each examination moment will be resubmitted in the same form as the original examination.

Course literature and other study material

Entire course

The web-based course literature is accessible at Malmö University library to enrolled students.

Azerbaijan Profile (2006/April). World of Information Cambridge, England: Walden Publishing Ltd, 2006. (10 p.)

site.ebrary.com/lib/malmoe/Doc?id=10121020&ppg=1

Coene, F. The Caucasus: an introduction. Routledge, 2009 (255 p.)

www.dawsonera.com.support.mah.se/depp/reader/protected/external/AbstractView/S9780203870716/S69.67/2

Georgia Profile (2006/April). World of Information Cambridge, England:, Walden Publishing Ltd; 2006. (7 p.)

site.ebrary.com/lib/malmoe/Doc?id=10121007&ppg=1

Ghokay, Bhulent. Politics of Caspian Oil. Gordonsville, VA, USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 2001. (p.1-50)

site.ebrary.com.support.mah.se/lib/malmoe/docDetail.action?docID=10062343

Malek, M. The South Caucasus at the Crossroads: Ethno-territorial Conflicts, Russian Interests, and the Access to Energy Resources. In: G. Hauser & F. Kernic (eds.), European security in transition. Aldershot, England ; Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2006., (p.145-160).

site.ebrary.com.support.mah.se/lib/malmoe/docDetail.action?docID=10211295

Phillips, D.L. Stability, security and sovereignty in the Republic of Georgia: rapid response conflict prevention assessment, sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations Center for Preventative Action; David L. Phillips, New York, NY: Council on Foreign Relations Press, 2004. (29 p.) (available online)

Peimani, H. General Overview of the Caucasian and the Central Asian Countries at the Time of Independence. In: Failed Transition, Bleak Future? War and Instability in Central Asia and the Caucasus, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, (7-24.)

site.ebrary.com.support.mah.se/lib/malmoe/docDetail.action?docID=10023330

Zuidema, L. & D. Bigman (Ed.). Globalization and the Developing Countries: Emerging Strategies for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation.

Wallingford, Oxon, GBR: CABI Publishing, 2002. (p. 259-274)

site.ebrary.com/lib/malmoe/Doc?id=10185871&ppg=275

The course uses additional online resourses and articles of approx, 150 + 200 pages, for the two modules respectively.

Reference literature

Minahan, J. One Europe, Many Nations : A Historical Dictionary of European National Groups, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000

http://site.ebrary.com.support.mah.se/lib/malmoe/docDetail.action?docID=10017990

Dalby, A. Dictionary of Languages. Huntingdon, , GBR: A & C Black, 2006.

http://site.ebrary.com/lib/malmoe/Doc?id=10196649&ppg=72

McCauley, M. Who's Who in Russia since 1900. London, GBR: Routledge, 1997.

http://site.ebrary.com/lib/malmoe/Doc?id=10057209&ppg=6

Course evaluation

All students are given the opportunity to comment the course at the end of the term in an online survey. A compilation of the results will be available on the university computer net. Students are also given the opportunity to offer feedback at various points earlier in the term.