Political Science

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the law and practice of international dispute settlement. The course begins with an introduction to the obligation to settle international disputes peacefully and an overview of the fundamental principles of dispute settlement. The course then explores the non-judicial means of dispute settlement: negotiation, mediation, good offices, inquiry, and conciliation. Thereafter, the course focuses on the judicial settlement of disputes by international courts and tribunals, in particular the International Court of Justice, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea dispute settlement mechanisms, the dispute settlement procedures and mechanisms of the World Trade Organization, and arbitral tribunals in both inter-State and investor-State disputes. The course concludes by addressing select issues related to international dispute settlement, namely provisional measures, landmark cases (such as the South China Sea arbitration), and contemporary issues such as compliance with judicial and arbitral decisions, and the politics of international investment law. Throughout the course, not only the “law,” but also the “politics” of dispute settlement are addressed.

This course introduces students to international questions of security and policing. In light of an interdisciplinary approach, the course thus focuses on the way in which current topics of interest are politically and operationally addressed, from criminal and political violence to illicit finance and global infectious diseases. In this regard, it fosters a capacity of analysis and independent judgement on the politics and everyday practices of transnational policing, border and migration control, surveillance, and security intelligence in the digital age.

Film, literature, and the arts have always played a central role in reflecting the attitudes towards the twin ideologies of Nazism and Communism in Central and Eastern Europe. They were central to propagandizing these ideologies and building their strength after World War I. However, they also provided the most vibrant forum for those challenging the totalitarian regimes established by Nazis and Communists. In the period since their fall, politics and academia have frequently failed to enable an accessible debate on their legacy. Thus, film and literature remain the site of a debate. This course explores the theme in a multi-disciplinary manner, drawing on history, political science, literature, film studies, and psychology. A thematical, rather than chronological, approach was selected to emphasize the occurrence of the examined issues across regions and times, using different methods of exploration. As Prague is one of the few capitals that experienced liberal democracy, Nazism, Communism, and a return to liberal democracy over the scope of slightly more than 50 years, first-hand experience through field trips and guest speakers is incorporated into the course to enhance understanding of the topic.

This course examines the foreign relations of Spain. Topics include: Spain's foreign relations-- a complex model of relations whose core is formed by foreign policy; legal and political aspects of Spanish foreign policy-- bodies, powers, preparation, application, and control instruments; Spain's coordination with, autonomy from, and subordination to European foreign policy; key issues on the Spanish foreign agenda; perceptions-- Spain's view of the world and the foreign image of Spain.

This course explores the weaponization of non-military means to interfere and destabilize countries, including economic competition, social agitation, propaganda, and foreign interference; and how intelligence, security, and defense capabilities adapt to irregular warfare to deter and secure societies. Establishing the basics of conflicts in our contemporary times, this course covers numerous case studies around the world to understand their diversity, evolution, and structuring impact on international relations.