1. The majority of the nations of Central/Eastern Europe were ensnared in the midst of great empires until end of WWI. How did the dominant systemic paradigm of that time serve to provide a justification for the existence of those empires? What paradigmatic shift took place to transform that outlook? Select one nation. Discuss the 19th century relationship it had with an empire and the change that occurred in the 20th century. What effect did systemic change, post-war, have on the nation you have chosen? Was it able to sustain the interwar year changes, or not? Given the two current systemic paradigms that are potentially salient, is the time ripe for the rebuilding of empires or, not? Explain.
2. Central/Eastern European societies have typically been characterized as “weak states”. What is meant by that characterization? What effect would the “weak state” character have on the respective efforts of these nations to establish democratic and authoritarian regimes, respectively? In other words does a weak state background lend itself more to the inculcation of democracy or authoritarian communism? Select a nation from the region to illustrate your point.
3. The nations of Central/Eastern Europe were described as having flunked democracy during the interwar years. What is meant by that statement? What were the causes of their failure in institutionalizing democracy? Select one nation to illustrate your point. What efforts could be/have been made to ameliorate that situation to improve the prospects for democratization at present?
4. Hitler’s chief successes in extending his reach during the interwar years were achieved in, what was then, Czechoslovakia. How do you account for Hitler’s success? Was his ability to neutralize Russia due to the same factor or a different one? Explain.
5. Discuss Stalinism. Describe the Stalinist strategy for the expansion of communism in the region in question. Select one nation as a case in point. How did his successor, Khruschev, differ in his recipe for the communist state from Stalin? Discuss the impact of the Stalinist “cult of personality” on the Sino-Soviet split. Which do you think would have best most effective in creating a stable Eastern Bloc, the Stalinist approach or, that of Khrushev? Explain.
6. Discuss the relationship between any nation of our region and an IGO in which it is a member. Being sure to be analytical, assess whether or not the pros outweigh the cons of continued membership. Present an issue on the agenda of the nation and the IGO to illustrate your view. Should the nation continue to remain in the organization or, exit? Explain.
7. Given what you have read about the historical background of the nations from our part of the world, which would you suggest has the greatest chance of succeeding in its rebirth? In answering this question, be sure to be analytical and to reference elements and events from the past that are salient. Which nation would you suggest has the least chance? Explain.
8. Select any nation from our region of study. Using the template from the quiz as your guide, debate an issue concerning your nation. Again, your choices are to explain which side should prevail, will prevail or why a situation is taking is taking or, has taken, the course that it has.
9. Is the post-9/11 war on terror paradigm relevant to a discussion of the foreign policy behavior of any of the nations from the region of the world that we are studying? Explain, citing an example of that nation and its post-9/11 foreign relations issue. Using levels-of-analysis, explain what you think the nation should or, will, do. What role might the other contemporary systemic paradigm have on your discussion?