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Political Science

* Exchange students do not have to consider this information when selecting suitable courses for an exchange stay.

Course Unit Code711-0303/25
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated2 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Optional
Level of Course Unit *First Cycle
Year of Study *Second Year
Semester when the Course Unit is deliveredSummer Semester
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
Language of InstructionCzech
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites Course succeeds to compulsory courses of previous semester
Name of Lecturer(s)Personal IDName
ZEM0106Mgr. Tomáš Zemčík, Ph.D.
Summary
The purpose of this course is to give basic information about political
science, its development, traditions, key terms, methods and theories. The
course dwells on the problems of ideologies, state, democracy, political
systems, political parties, political culture, human rights, international
relationships, political aspects of the european integration processes. Course
should give students basic knowledge abouot politics as well as the ability of
orientation in other particular courses.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
Student demonstrates basic knowledge in the area of internal and international politics. He can prove orientation in politics, based on the ability of independent judgment and is able, on the basis of knowledge of political science to understand the political situation in the Czech Republic, international politics and the European Union.
Course Contents
1. Politics as a social phenomenon
2. History of Political Thinking
3. Ideology - their comparison and influence on the development of the Euro-American civilization¨
4. Democracy as a type of political system.
5. Contemporary non-democratic political systems.
6. The political system of the society and its institutions
7. Elections. Electoral systems.
8. Political parties.. Interest and pressure groups and their influence on politics
9. Political culture.
10. Media and their influence on political behavior.
11. Human rights.
12. Political aspects of European integration
13. Theory of international relations.
14. Selected potential global conflicts - reasons, regions.
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
HEYWOOD, Andrew. Political Ideologies. 2012 5th edition. Palgrave Macmillan
HEYWOOD, Andrew) Politologie. 2008 Nakl. A.Čeněk, IBSVN 978-80-7380-115-1
PROROK,Vladimír, Lisa,Aleš Základy politologie. 2009.Nakl.A.Čeněk, ISBN: 978-80-7380-141-0
CÍSAŘ, Ondřej Politologie. 2005 M U. ISBN 80-210-3856-X
Heywood, A.: Political Theory. London 2007.
Recommended Reading:
JUDT, Tony. Postwar : a history of Europe since 1948-1990. 2010 London
JUDT,Tony, SNYDER, Timothy. Thinking the Twentieth Century. 2013 Palgrave MacMilan
Bělohradský V. : Kapitalismus a občanské ctnosti, Praha 1992.
Dahrendorf, R.: Moderní sociální konflikt, Bratislava 1991.
Jodl, M.: Teorie elit, VŠE Praha 1994.
Klíma, M.: Volby a politické strany v moderních demokraciích, Radix 1998.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, Seminars, Individual consultations, Tutorials
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
Exercises evaluationCredit85 85