The Master’s Program in Conflict and Democracy Studies focuses on the discussion of the variety of potential relationships between democracy (and its quality), authoritarianism, totalitarianism, democratization, and conflict. We understand conflict to be a permanent, invariant feature of humankind, one that fuels both progress and failure. Since humans first began to establish rich social (and societal) ties, there have been struggles for power and a search for the best possible regime in any given time and place. Sometimes, to achieve their goals, conflicting parties use violence; sometimes they are able to come to a peaceful solution.

A key question, therefore, becomes whether it is possible to democratize (or decentralize) various (deeply divided) societies without fuelling ethnic, religious, or other conflicts. Following that is the question as to whether and how the threat of violent conflict is used by authorities to entrench, sustain, or even deepen autocratic tendencies. A focus on these questions is therefore natural and prudent.... [-]

Master in International Relations (MAIN) is a two-year English-language Master's degree programme, which provides students with the knowledge and analytical skills to understand and explain the international context of politics, economy, and security. The world is growing ever more interdependent and major political decisions, influencing our everyday lives, are made not only by individual nation states but increasingly also by regional as well as global institutions. The programme helps students understand how international and European politics work, and what are the challenges faced by states as well as business and societal actors in the globalized world.

Students learn, in depth, about the functioning of the European Union and of the key global institutions which states have developed to address these challenges. They study how if at all, international conflicts can be productively transformed into cooperation. In addition to providing students with a robust background in international and European politics, the programme puts an emphasis on the development of students’ analytical capabilities, abstract and critical thinking, and communication as well as language skills.... [-]

Master in International Relations and European Studies

The programme provides students with an opportunity to explore advanced topics in international relations and European studies while honing skills related to researching, essay and reports writing, public speaking, and communication in English. While Master’s students in the IRES department often come from a formal international relations and/or European studies background, the department welcomes students from other disciplines and assists them in ‘catching up,’ ensuring that they are on par with their classmates.

The programme is taught over two academic years (4 semesters) and it is concluded by a Master’s Dissertation, under supervision from one of our faculty members. During this time-period, students are obliged to take all the allotted compulsory courses and they have the possibility to specialise in certain areas (of their interest) by selecting the ‘free-choice’ courses offered each semester.... [-]

Master in International and Diplomatic Studies

International and Diplomatic Studies (IDS) is a two-year (four-semester) full-time master’s program taught in English at the University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic (VŠE).The program covers the fields of international politics, international economy, international law, comparative politics, diplomatic history, as well as diplomatic theory and practice. A strong emphasis is placed on issues regarding the European Union, yet the program includes a variety of optional courses on comparative politics and international relations in other parts of the world, too.Program Objectives

The program provides training involving theoretical and practical knowledge in international relations with a multidisciplinary approach. This emphasis on multidisciplinarity combines historical depth with the complexity of political and economic spheres and diplomatic practice.The key advantage of this program is to immediately immerse students in the international environment through the presence of high-level teachers having studied in foreign universities, and by offering the possibility to study abroad (France, Germany, Mexico, Korea, Poland, Turkey, etc.). The international environment is a tremendous asset to research internships and jobs.The program prepares for professional and/or academic careers. The major opportunities for its graduates are:... [-]