Brief description
The module will begin by examining the political traditions in the region and the ways in which Communist parties came to power and remained in power in the period immediately following the end of the Second World War. The module will assess attempts at political reform under Communist rule and evaluate the degree of political pluralism which was possible before the late 1980s. The impact of Gorbachev on the region will be examined, and the long-term and immediate causes of the revolutions of 1989 will be discussed. The module will conclude with a close look at the differing political experiences of countries in Eastern Europe since the collapse of Communist rule, considering such questions as the systems of government chosen by these states, the impact of EU enlargement on the region, and the role of nationalism in these countries in the aftermath of the Cold War.

Aims
The aim of this module is to examine the changing nature of politics in the countries of Eastern Europe from the end of the Second World War through the collapse of Communist rule and the post-Communist transition.

Objectives
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

• discuss the different ways in which Communist parties came to power in this region following the Second World War

• discuss similarities and differences in the Communist political systems of the countries in this region

• analyse the causes of the revolutions of 1989

• evaluate the progress which the states of Eastern Europe have made in their transition from Communist rule

10 ECTS Credits