166-541 Aspects of Post-Communism

Formerly available as 166-063/449. Students who have completed 166-063/449 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the Master of International Politics one-year program, or fourth-year honours in political science by special permission from the fourth-year and subject coordinator.

This subject focuses on deeper theoretical aspects of the transitions from communist power, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, since 1989. It introduces students to many of the dilemmas faced by European (mainly) transition states, and to the concepts of totalitarianism, authoritarianism, revolution and refolution, post-communism, transformation, democratisation, marketisation, neo-liberalism, path-dependency, identity politics, nationalism and post-nationalism. The subject engages with debates on transition, including the tension between the desire for democracy and the frequently identified need for a strong state. In this context, the direction of post-communist states both away from and towards authoritarianism is examined, as is the potential conflict between socioeconomic goals such as a comprehensive welfare state and the political goal of democracy. On completion of the subject, students should have an advanced understanding of the dilemmas and historical specificity of post-communism, and of debates on several important concepts related to this, such as revolution/refolution, transformation, and the alleged crises of political modernity and the state. They should also be able to locate their knowledge within broader political and social theorising, and be able to discuss at an advanced level practical problems of attempts simultaneously to implement political, economic, social, cultural and ideological revolutions.