CIEE, Prague

This course focuses on differences in the functioning of national economies around the world and especially on differences between the national economies of individual EU member states and Central and Eastern European countries. It discusses the influence of culture, geography, abundance, or lack of natural and human resources, and mainly economic institutions and polices on the economic development of those countries. Using Hofstede's dimensions, students explore cultural differences among European countries and discuss practical issues such as the differences in the style of management and differences in consumer preferences. In addition to other theoretical tools employed in the course such as contemporary population theories, natural resource abundance, and production theories, also statistical data are included, serving as supplementary information for the comparison. The course explains common generalizations and classifications of economic and social models (e.g. Atlantic capitalism vs. Rhine capitalism; Sapir's view: Anglo-Saxon model vs. Nordic vs. Continental vs. Mediterranean model) and analyzes the implications of differences between economic and social models used by individual member countries for competitiveness. In addition to helping students understand economies of different countries and their ability to do business, it also helps them gain an insight into European economic institutions and policies. Although the lectures and readings contain extensive empirical evidence and data, the emphasis is on understanding the logic and economics of the analyzed processes.

This course is designed to enhance students' knowledge of Central European developments during and after the democratic revolutions of 1989. The course examines the democratic revolutions in 1989, the institutional and international framework of the transition process, and specific problems of democratization in Central Europe. It discusses the main turning points of modern political history of the respective countries of the Central European geopolitical space and presents similarities and differences of such developments. In addition, the course explores the constitutional systems of the Central European countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, and Hungary), the effects of the enlargement of the European Union towards Central European countries after May 2004 and the results of the elections into the European Parliament in Central Europe in May 2014. Special attention is paid to the current dramatic events on the European continent including the migration crisis, the British referendum (Brexit) in June 2016, and others.

This course examines the role of corporate responsibility and encourages students to reflect on their own personal ethical views as they may apply them in complex business situations in culturally specific contexts. The course introduces fundamentals of ethics and responsible decision-making in business and other social contexts in their future professional careers. Students discuss complex analytical skills in evaluating the multifaceted contexts to assist them as future leaders and professionals when coming up with innovative solutions and making individual-level and company-level decisions about the proper courses of action considering ethical behavior, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability. Students apply theoretical knowledge of concepts such as culture of organizations, leadership styles, and corporate governance, when solving real-world cases in culture-specific contexts. Students participate in class discussions and debates, work in groups, and analyze case studies.

This course traces the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, from the beginnings of their tense wartime alliance until the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe in 1989. The early part of the course concentrates predominantly on the Soviet-US confrontation in Europe following the establishment and consolidation of Communist regimes in Eastern and Central Europe from 1944-48. Particular attention is paid to the events of February 1948 in Czechoslovakia and to the Berlin Airlift crisis of 1949. The period of the relaxation of East-West tensions which followed Stalin's death in 1953 is examined through a focus on negotiations over the fate of Austria and Germany, and the upheavals in Poland and Hungary in 1956. From its European beginnings, the course branches out to consider the Cold War in its global context, especially in its relationship to Third World nationalism, non-alignment, and anti-imperialism. The final weeks examine the crushing of the Prague Spring, the period of Détente, and the sudden and largely unanticipated end to the conflict in the 1980s, with a particular emphasis on the revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989.