SCHOOL

ECONOMIC AND REGIONAL STUDIES

ACADEMIC UNIT

BALKAN, SLAVIC AND ORIENTAL STUDIES

LEVEL OF STUDIES

UNDERGRADUATE

COURSE CODE

ΒΣΑ101-Ι

SEMESTER

B

COURSE TITLE

STATEHOOD. FORMATION AND LEGAL STRUCTURE

INDEPENDENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES
if credits are awarded for separate components of the course, e.g. lectures, laboratory exercises, etc. If the credits are awarded for the whole of the course, give the weekly teaching hours and the total credits

WEEKLY TEACHING HOURS

CREDITS

4

6

Add rows if necessary. The organisation of teaching and the teaching methods used are described in detail at (d).

COURSE TYPE

general background,
special background, specialised general knowledge, skills development

GENERAL BACKGROUND

PREREQUISITE COURSES:

NO

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION and EXAMINATIONS:

GREEK

IS THE COURSE OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTS

NO

COURSE WEBSITE (URL)

https://openeclass.uom.gr/courses/UNI218/

Learning outcomes

The course learning outcomes, specific knowledge, skills and competences of an appropriate level, which the students will acquire with the successful completion of the course are described.

Consult Appendix A

• Description of the level of learning outcomes for each qualifications cycle, according to the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area
• Descriptors for Levels 6, 7 & 8 of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and Appendix B
• Guidelines for writing Learning Outcomes

The Learning outcomes of the course are summarized as follows:

a) Familiarization of students with fundamental legal "key" concepts related to the formation and functioning of the state (e.g., Constitution, government, citizen, citizenship, nation, minority).

b) Understanding the ontology of the state and its fundamental characteristics as a political and legal entity in both international and domestic law.

c) Knowledge of different forms of state organization from both a historical and contemporary perspective.

d) Comprehension of the role of law as a formative factor in social life.

e) Development of students’ ability to approach developments in public life through the lens of law.

f) Acquisition of the necessary knowledge base for further studies in law and the social sciences.

General Competences

Taking into consideration the general competences that the degree-holder must acquire (as these appear in the Diploma Supplement and appear below), at which of the following does the course aim?

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology

Adapting to new situations

Decision-making

Working independently

Team work

Working in an international environment

Working in an interdisciplinary environment

Production of new research ideas

Project planning and management

Respect for difference and multiculturalism

Respect for the natural environment

Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues

Criticism and self-criticism

Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

……

Others…

…….

a) Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information.

b) Production of free, creative and inductive thinking.

c) Working in an interdisciplinary environment.

d)  Respect for difference and multiculturalism

e) Showing social, professional and ethical responsibility and sensitivity to gender issues

f)   Criticism and self-criticism.

g) Acquisition of the necessary knowledge base for the continuation of studies in law and social sciences.

This course offers an introduction to Political Science — the discipline that analyzes the phenomenon of the state — as well as to fundamental concepts in the field of Law. The course material is designed to familiarize students with foundational "key" concepts, the definition of which is essential across the entire spectrum of the social sciences: State, Law, Constitution.

The State remains today the primary actor in international relations. The course examines the constituent elements required by International Law for the formation of a state (population, territory, government), with case studies drawn from the history of Greece, the Balkan states, and Eastern Europe, as well as broader global practice: How did the world come to be made up of 193 states?

Main thematic units:

• Constitutive elements of the State (Territory / Population / Authority)
• Population as an element of the State. Key concepts: Citizen – Citizenship / Civic status – Migrant – Asylum seeker / Refugee – Stateless person
• Legal status of state territory (Land / Maritime zones / Airspace)
• State sovereignty and independence
• Constitution and forms of government
• Types of states (Unitary / Federal states)
• Law as the foundation of state formation
• The concept of Law. Value relativism and legal norms
• Sources of Law: Domestic Law and International Law
• Elements of constitutional organization of the State
• Crime and punishment: Introduction to Criminal Law

Course Description (Syllabus)

1. The emergence of the modern concept of the State in international relations. Constitutive elements of the State (Population, Territory, Sovereignty). How many states exist today? The population as a component of the State. Key concepts: Citizen – Citizenship / Civic status.

2. State and Nation. Monoethnic and multiethnic states. Key concepts: Minority – Indigenous population – The right to self-determination – The status of foreigners. Basic concepts: Asylum seeker / Refugee – Migrant – Stateless person.

3. The legal status of state territory (Land / Maritime zones / Airspace).

4. Sovereignty – Government – Constitution. Forms of state organization, unions of states, and special political formations: puppet states, dependent entities, territories under mandate/trusteeship.

5. Law as the foundation of state formation. The concept of Law – Value relativism and legal norms – Law from a historical and geographical perspective.

6. Sources of Law: Domestic Law and International Law. Domestic Law: branches and classifications – Sources of Greek Law.

7. Elements of the constitutional organization of the State: Form of government – Separation of powers – State institutions and functions – Fundamental principles of Public Administration.

8. Crime and punishment: Introduction to Criminal Law. What constitutes a crime? Legal categories of offenses – Mechanisms of criminal sanction.

9. The Judicial System. Courts – The role of the judiciary in the modern world.

DELIVERY
Face-to-face, Distance learning, etc.

Face-to-face

USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Use of ICT in teaching, laboratory education, communication with students

Yes, in the laboratory part of the course and in communication with the students.

TEACHING METHODS

The manner and methods of teaching are described in detail.

Lectures, seminars, laboratory practice, fieldwork, study and analysis of bibliography, tutorials, placements, clinical practice, art workshop, interactive teaching, educational visits, project, essay writing, artistic creativity, etc.

The student's study hours for each learning activity are given as well as the hours of non-directed study according to the principles of the ECTS

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Description of the evaluation procedure

Language of evaluation, methods of evaluation, summative or conclusive, multiple choice questionnaires, short-answer questions, open-ended questions, problem solving, written work, essay/report, oral examination, public presentation, laboratory work, clinical examination of patient, art interpretation, other

Specifically-defined evaluation criteria are given, and if and where they are accessible to students.

• The evaluation of the course is written.
• The language of evaluation is Greek.
• The course is evaluated through written exams at the end of the semester, consisting of multiple-choice and short-answer questions (summative).

The summative assessment is intended for students who have either already attended the course but have not taken or passed the exam, and/or for those who are unable to attend. It will be based on the textbooks and bibliography clearly specified at the beginning of the semester.

The written exam aims to confirm that the student has understood the critical topics of the course, such as the fundamental elements and concepts of Political Science and Law, and that they are able to identify and analyse the significance of the basic notions of the state, law, and political system. Emphasis is placed on the ability for critical thinking, the connection between theory and practice, as well as the understanding of the role of the state and law as foundations of social organization.

Grading Explanation

9-10:
Excellent critical analysis and argumentation, very good use and understanding of sources, coherent structure, very good use of academic language and conventions.

7-8:
Good critical analysis and argumentation, good use and understanding of sources, structure that does not cause comprehension problems though it shows some weaknesses, moderate use of academic language and conventions.

5-6:
Problematic analysis and argumentation, usually contains incoherent argumentation, mostly description without an attempt at critical analysis of sources (e.g., emphasis only on describing empirical examples), but shows a basic understanding of sources; structure lacks clarity and coherence though it presents a general argument; moderate use of sources without plagiarism and respects conventions but shows linguistic weaknesses.

4 and below:
No substantial effort to use academic sources and formulate a clear argument; use of primary or secondary electronic sources that are neither verified nor reliable, or with unclear methodology; problems understanding the text due to structural weaknesses; plagiarism; disrespect of academic conventions; poor use of language.

- Suggested bibliography:

• Αντωνόπουλος, Κ. – Μαγκλιβέρας, Κ., Το Δίκαιο της Διεθνούς Κοινωνίας, 4η έκδοση, Αθήνα: Νομική Βιβλιοθήκη, 2022
• Γεωργιάδης, Α., Τι είναι Δίκαιο; Η νομική επιστήμη για όλους, 2η έκδοση, Αθήνα: Πανεπιστημιακές Εκδόσεις Κρήτης, 2023
• Instructor’s notes (posted on the Open eClass website)

- Supplementary bibliography:

• Ακριβοπούλου, Χ.Μ. – Ανθόπουλος, Χ., Εισαγωγή στο Διοικητικό Δίκαιο, Αθήνα: Σύνδεσμος Ελληνικών Ακαδημαϊκών Βιβλιοθηκών, 2015 (www.kallipos.gr)
• Αντωνόπουλος, Κ. – Μαγκλιβέρας, Κ., Το Δίκαιο της Διεθνούς Κοινωνίας, 4η έκδοση, Αθήνα: Νομική Βιβλιοθήκη, 2022
• Αραβαντινός, Ι. Π., Εισαγωγή στην επιστήμη του δικαίου, Αθήναι: Σάκκουλας, 1978
• Μάνεσης Α. Ι., Δίκαιο, Σύνταγμα, Πολιτική, Θεσσαλονίκη, Παρατηρητής, s. d. (Συλλογή μελετών, 1980-1983)
• Μανωλεδάκης, Ι., Εισαγωγή στην επιστήμη, 3η έκδ., Θεσσαλονίκη: Παρατηρητής, 1980
• Παπαδοπούλου, Λ., Συνταγματικό Δίκαιο, Αθήνα: Σύνδεσμος Ελληνικών Ακαδημαϊκών Βιβλιοθηκών, 2015 (www.kallipos.gr)
• Σούρλας, Π. Κ., Justi atque injusti scientia. Μια εισαγωγή στην επιστήμη του δικαίου, Αθήνα-Κομοτηνή: Σάκκουλας, 1995
• Σταμάτης, Κ. Μ., Εισαγωγή στη μεθοδολογία του δικαίου, Θεσσαλονίκη: Σάκκουλας, 1991
• Χρυσόγονος, Κ.Χ., Πολιτειολογία. Το Κράτος ως μορφή οργάνωσης των ανθρώπινων κοινωνιών, Αθήνα - Θεσσαλονίκη: Εκδ. Σάκκουλα, 2020
• Clapham, A., Brierly’s Law of Nations. An introduction to the role of international law in international relations, 7th ed., Oxford: University Press, 2012
• Crawford, J. & Koskeniemmi, M. (Eds.), The Cambridge Companion to International Law, Cambridge: University Press, 2012

-  Related academic Journals

• Το Σύνταγμα
• European Journal of International Law