The course will present the geopolitical context during which the political transformation in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) took place. The course will focus on the strategic decisions and challenges faced by the CEE countries, from Estonia in the North to Bulgaria in the South, and discuss the economic consequences of these decisions. Social and political issues that have a significant impact on the functioning of the economy will also be analyzed. Based on the analysis of the economic history of the region, the course will also discuss current challenges that result from geopolitical processes, such as the war in Ukraine or tensions between the US and China.

The aim of the course is to present to students the process of systemic transformation that took place in Central and Eastern Europe since 1989. Poland, the fastest growing economy in Europe since 1989, will be a model for the analysis of economic policy and the behavior of the business sector in the conditions of political, institutional and geopolitical changes. The experiences of other Central and Eastern European countries will highlight how choices at the level of political strategy affect the economic situation at the macro and micro levels.

After this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the post-socialist process - its economic, political and social aspects.
- Know how current shape of global economy is interconnected with post-socialist transition process.
- Evaluate how different policy choices affect economic performance and social stability in CEE economies.
- Realize how macroeconomic and political stability contribute to the success and failures of business projects in CEE.
- Evaluate of current potential of CEE economies.
- Understand current economic and political challenges of CEE countries in the global economy context.

Faculty: Jacek Tomkiewicz; Marcin Piatkowski; Grzegorz Malinowski

Course Date & Time

Thursdays, 15:00 - 18:15 Central European Time (CET)