COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: POLITICS AND HISTORY OF BALKANS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 122	B	2	2	2	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Isa Erbaş ierbas@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Isa Erbaş ierbas@epoka.edu.al , Monday 09:45- 13:30 hours
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	D 103
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	Compulsory
Course Description:	This syllabus is designed to help students to know Political History of Balkans, to understand the phases, dynamics and changes under different international context and to evaluate the historical development during conflicts and war. This course draws attention of students to political history of Balkans with their specifics in geography, political configuration, ethno-cultural characteristics and the relations among them as well as current discussion about the impacts of history.
Course Objectives:	At the end of this syllabus students deliver their judgments on various nations and nation sovereign states issue; to write and talk about what kind of historical background any nation-state enters in international relation and their interest and behavior up to now. Finally, the students must be able to they demonstrate their knowledge, ability and skills on political histories analysis and to use their conclusion in order to apply them in real situation when it is took place in each Country in Balkan Sub-Region .

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Understanding the Balkan Peninsula as a geographical and political region in Southeast Europe.
2	Understanding how empires such as the Ottoman and Habsburg Empires shaped political, social, and administrative structures in the Balkans.
3	Understanding the millet system as a religious-based administrative model under Ottoman rule.
4	Understanding the emergence of the nation-state as a political system based on shared national identity.
5	Understanding nationalism as an ideology promoting sovereignty, unity, and political self-determination.
6	Understanding Balkanization as the fragmentation of political units into smaller and often competing states.
7	Understanding federalism as a system of shared power between central and regional governments.
8	Understanding Yugoslavia as a multi-ethnic federal state and its historical significance.
9	Understanding ethnicity and identity as central factors in Balkan political development.
10	Understanding identity politics and the role of historical memory in shaping political narratives.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Syllabus and Materials. Overview of course aims, assessment, and expectations. Students will be introduced to the course syllabus, aims, materials, assessment methods, and key expectations.
2	The Balkans Before Nationalism (Pre-1800). This topic focuses on the Balkan Peninsula under Ottoman and Habsburg rule. Ottoman conquest (14th–15th centuries). Habsburg presence in Croatia & Slovenia. Pre-modern political structures. Students examine imperial governance, the millet system, religious diversity, and pre-national identities. The week establishes the political order before modern nationalism. Abdula, Sevba. (2024), pp.391-401; Erbaş, Isa. (2021), pp.43-93; Veremis, Thanos (2017), pp. 1-21.
3	The Greek Revolution and the Birth of Balkan Nationalism. (1821–1830) This topic focuses on the Greek War of Independence and the creation of the first modern Balkan nation-state. 1821 Greek uprising. 1830 recognition of independence. Role of the Great Powers. Students analyze how Greek independence triggered nationalist mobilization across the Balkans and marked the beginning of the domino effect of Balkan nationalism. Abdula, Sevba. (2024), pp.13-45; Erbaş, Isa. (2021), pp.78-79; Thanos Veremis (2017), pp. 9-35.
4	Early National Movements: Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria (1804–1878). This topic focuses on the rise of Serbian autonomy, Romanian unification, and Bulgarian independence movements. 1804 Serbian uprising. 1859 Romanian unification. 1878 Congress of Berlin. Students examine how nationalism spread throughout the region and how Great Power diplomacy shaped emerging Balkan states. Eva Tamara Asboth (2025), pp. 87-127; Abdula, Sevba. (2024), pp.159-172; Erbaş, Isa. (2021), pp.80-82.
5	Late National Awakenings: Albania and the South Slavs (1878–1912). This topic focuses on the Albanian national awakening and South Slavic political developments. 1878 League of Prizren. Growth of Croatian and Slovenian political movements. Rising regional tensions. Students analyze late state formation, identity consolidation, and the increasing instability that preceded the Balkan Wars. Liridona Veliu Ashiku, (2025), pp. 135-159; .Abdula, Sevba. (2024), pp.333-344; Erbaş, Isa. (2021), pp.97-188; Thanos Veremis (2017), pp. 32-37.
6	The Balkan Wars and the End of Ottoman Europe (1912–1913). This topic focuses on the First and Second Balkan Wars. 1912 First Balkan War. 1913 Second Balkan War. Final collapse of Ottoman rule in Europe. Students examine shifting alliances, territorial disputes, and the long-term consequences of borders drawn without ethnic consensus.Asboth, Eva Tamara (2025), pp. 77-167; Abdula, Sevba. (2024), pp.74-74.
7	World War I and the Creation of Yugoslavia (1914–1918). This topic focuses on the Balkan dimension of World War I and the collapse of empires. 1914 assassination in Sarajevo. Defeat of the Central Powers. 1918 creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Students examine how the end of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian rule reshaped the region and assess whether Yugoslavia represented unity or a fragile political compromise. Abdula, Sevba. (2024), pp.315-334.
8	Interwar Instability and World War II in the Balkans (1918–1945). This topic focuses on political instability, authoritarian regimes, and external intervention in the interwar period. Royal dictatorship in Yugoslavia. Rise of fascist influence. Axis occupation during World War II. Students analyze state fragility, resistance movements, and the foundations of post-war socialist regimes. Thanos Veremis (2017), pp. 46-57.
9	Midterm exam
10	Socialist Yugoslavia and Federalism (1945–1991). This topic focuses on Tito’s leadership and the establishment of socialist Yugoslavia. 1945 communist consolidation. Federal system and “Brotherhood and Unity.” Non-Aligned Movement. Students examine how federalism attempted to manage ethnic diversity and maintain stability during the Cold War. Thanos Veremis (2017), pp. 3-71.
11	The Collapse of Yugoslavia and the 1990s Wars (1991–1999). This topic focuses on the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the wars that followed. 1991 declarations of independence. Wars in Croatia and Bosnia. 1999 Kosovo conflict. Students analyze nationalism, international intervention, and the challenges of post-conflict state-building. Liridona Veliu Ashiku, (2025), pp. 74-100; Abdula, Sevba. (2024), pp.19-35; Veremis, Thanos (2017), pp. 85-92.
12	Nationalism and Identity Politics in the Balkans. This topic focuses on competing national narratives and identity construction. Religion and ethnicity. Memory politics. Historical reinterpretation. Students examine how nationalism continues to shape domestic politics and inter-state relations in the region. Erbaş, Isa. (2021), pp.57-61; Thanos Veremis (2017), pp. 95-104.
13	Balkanization and Post-Cold War Transformation. This topic focuses on the concept of “Balkanization” and its political meaning. Fragmentation vs integration. Post-modern identity politics. Regional stereotypes. Students critically assess whether the Balkans remain fragmented or are moving toward political consolidation. Liridona Veliu Ashiku, (2025), pp. 52-72.
14	EU Engagement in the Western Balkans. This topic focuses on EU conditionality and enlargement challenges. Candidate and potential candidate status. Reform requirements. Enlargement fatigue. Students analyze political, economic, and institutional obstacles to European integration. Liridona Veliu Ashiku, (2025), pp. 1-48.

Prerequisite(s):	Theory attendance: 60, Practice: 75.
Textbook(s):	Berisha, Erblin, John Moodie, Ledio Allkja, and Marija Jeftić (Eds.). (2026). The Palgrave handbook of just green transitions in the Western Balkans and beyond. Palgrave Macmillan. Asboth, Eva Tamara (2025). Transnational and transatlantic perspectives on the Balkans, 1850–1918. Palgrave Macmillan. Veliu Ashiku, Liridona. (2025). “Balkanization” and the Euro-Atlantic processes of the (Western) Balkans: Back to the future. Routledge. Abdula, Sevba. (2024). The Balkans: Politics, history and society Getoš Kalac, Anna-Maria. (2021). Violence in the Balkans: First findings from the Balkan Homicide Study. Springer. Erbaş, Isa. (2021). Turkish foreign policy towards Balkan countries: Views of people of Albania. West Print. Veremis, Thanos (2017). A modern history of the Balkans: Nationalism and identity in Southeast Europe. I.B. Tauris. Forbes, N., Toynbee, A. J., Mitrany, D., & Hogarth, D. G. (2010). The Balkans. Oxford University Press.
Additional Literature:	N/A
Laboratory Work:	N/A
Computer Usage:	N/A
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Upon successful completion of the course: students will Identify and describe the major historical phases in the political development of the Balkan Peninsula from imperial rule to contemporary statehood.
2	Explain the emergence of Balkan nation-states, beginning with Greek independence (1830), and analyze the spread of nationalism across the region.
3	Analyse the causes and consequences of the Balkan Wars, World War I, the formation of Yugoslavia, and the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.
4	Evaluate the role of nationalism, identity politics, religion, and historical memory in shaping political developments in the Balkans.
5	Assess the impact of international actors, including the European Union, NATO, and other geopolitical powers, on regional stability and integration.
6	Apply key political science concepts, such as nationalism, federalism, multilateralism, and state-building, to Balkan case studies.
7	Develop basic analytical and argumentative skills through written and oral assessments related to Balkan political history and contemporary issues.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	5
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	5
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	5
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	5
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	4
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	4
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	4
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	4
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	4

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Homework	5	4
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Final Exam	1	40
Attendance		10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	4	64
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	2	32
Mid-terms	1	10	10
Assignments	1	4	4
Final examination	1	15	15
Other			0
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER