Introduction to Black Sea Studies (120559)
DImitrios Triantafyllou
The course focuses on understanding the challenges and the synergies in the Black Sea region. In particular, we will assess the regional cooperation process from both a historical and a theoretical perspective with a particular focus on how this process developed in the Black Sea region in the post-Cold War era, when it gained greater clarity and depth. We will also address issues related to economic cooperation and development, with a particular focus on the role of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). We will also focus on several regional security issues, such as frozen and protracted conflicts in the region and energy security. In this context, the role of powerful regional and extra-regional actors such as Russia, Turkey and the United States will be assessed. Finally, the role of the European Union as a potentially rising power in the Black Sea region will be explored in depth. We will assess the European Neighbourhood Policy as well as more recent initiatives such as the Black Sea Synergy and the Eastern Partnership and how these affect the Black Sea region together with the growing role of the European Union in trying to resolve the various "protracted" conflicts in the region, as well as the parallel development of a coherent energy strategy. Finally, we will examine the impact of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 2022 and assess whether the aforementioned dynamics of regional cooperation can be saved.
The syllabus covers the span of 13 weeks covering the following topics.
Modules:
• Course Introduction: Why study the Black Sea?
• The Black Sea and its stakes
• The countries of the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia)
• The role of Russia and Turkey
• The European Union and its priorities in the Black Sea region
• Understanding the regional cooperation process historically and theoretically
• Regional Cooperation in the Black Sea Region
• European Neighbourhood Policy and the Black Sea
• Economic cooperation in the Black Sea region
• Security Issues in the Black Sea Region
• Energy Issues in the Black Sea Region
• Lessons learned and expectations for the future
The course focuses on understanding the challenges and the synergies in the Black Sea region. In particular, we will assess the regional cooperation process from both a historical and a theoretical perspective with a particular focus on how this process developed in the Black Sea region in the post-Cold War era, when it gained greater clarity and depth. We will also address issues related to economic cooperation and development, with a particular focus on the role of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). We will also focus on several regional security issues, such as frozen and protracted conflicts in the region and energy security. In this context, the role of powerful regional and extra-regional actors such as Russia, Turkey and the United States will be assessed. Finally, the role of the European Union as a potentially rising power in the Black Sea region will be explored in depth. We will assess the European Neighbourhood Policy as well as more recent initi
The course focuses on understanding the challenges and the synergies in the Black Sea region. In particular, we will assess the regional cooperation process from both a historical and a theoretical perspective with a particular focus on how this process developed in the Black Sea region in the post-Cold War era, when it gained greater clarity and depth. We will also address issues related to economic cooperation and development, with a particular focus on the role of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). We will also focus on several regional security issues, such as frozen and protracted conflicts in the region and energy security. In this context, the role of powerful regional and extra-regional actors such as Russia, Turkey and the United States will be assessed. Finally, the role of the European Union as a potentially rising power in the Black Sea region will be explored in depth. We will assess the European Neighbourhood Policy as well as more recent initi
