The break-down of communism in Eastern and Central Europe in 1989 neither proved the "triumph of liberalism" nor brought about "the end of history" (Fukuyama). Rather than "instant" democracy and market economy, ethno-nationalism very often simply replaced communism as an ideology for legitimation of the exercise of power with tremendous consequences for the entire region: the disintegration and even break-up of communist multi-national empires, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia, in the latter case with a horrific sequence of wars and ethnic cleansing.

At the same time Europe was witnessing a process of integration with the establishment of the European Economic and Monetary Union by the treaty of Maastricht in 1992 up to the final introduction of the EURO in 2002, accompanied by the legal and political processes of "Eastern enlargement" of the EU.

Module I starts with an overview of the main topics addressed by the programme and an introduction of the main concepts of Law, political Science and Economics.

During the first week of studies we attempt to familiarise our students with the past and present political, economic and cultural European issues

·       by exploring the "story" of (Western) European integration regarding the perception of the relationship between "East" and "West" and the perception of concepts such as "federalism" in order to understand the precarious dynamics of crises, failures and "successes" of integration;

·       by comparing several experiences of past, present and future waves of EU enlargements and detecting them as crisis provoking and resolving phenomena.

·       by focusing on the case of Turkey as an example of future challenges for European integration process, for the creation of a European identity and for the future pan-European political unit

After having elaborated the political, economical, sociological and historical dimension of European integration and about "federalism" in Europe especially at the background of the in depth analysed process of enlargement we turn to the debate of "we and the others".

Therefore we will focus in the second week of studies

·       in analysing the developments, failures and successes of EU Neighbourhood policies and the Stabilisation and Association Process in the Western Balkans

·       in discussing the role of myths and the (mis)use of history in the definition of the perceptions of "us" versus "them". The mechanisms of exclusion or inclusion based upon this binary code of communication will be illustrated in the case of Kosovo;

·       by elaborating the basic concepts of human rights and minority protection as "standards" not only for the accession candidates of the EU, but for all member states

·       on the complex dynamics of new minorities integration and on dilemmas that diversity and cohesion pose in contemporary societies. Why the multiculturalism policies have triggered off so many contrasting opinions, from fierce criticisms to passionate support? Our goal is to assess both the failures and the successes of policies and institutions as responses to the challenge of diversity and cohesion

Finally the participants will debate whether the European integration is not only a process of achieving a political and legal equilibrium between member state sovereignty and the powers of supranational institutions, but also one of creating a European identity which more and more will play an eminent role in the European Condominium.

Module I of the Masters programme offers therefore a highly qualified introduction to the most topical challenge of European "Unity in Diversity".

This bottom-up approach is part of the "philosophy" of the entire Master programme.

Tutorial staff: Joseph Marko, Gabriel von Toggenburg, Emma Lantschner