Course descriptions for ERASMUS students 1st semester, academic year 2011/2012
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Law / /Department of Politology
Course Code
Title:
Introduction to the Study of International Relations
Teacher:
Krisztina JUHÁSZ, Faculty of Law, Department of Politology
Contact:
Module Aims
(minimum 210 characters)
The aim of the course is the introduction of the main aspects of international relations (IR). In the globalized world students have to have no doubt about the actors of IR and the aims and means of them. Because of the interdependence, which is an important effect of globalization, states and their citizens are influenced by other states and non-state acors. Thus we should examine the actors of IR, the main theories of IR, the means of foreign policy (special regards to diplomacy and war), and the process of globalization.
Module Subject
(minimum 350 characters)
The course makes the students acquainted with the science of international relations. It deals with the history of the science and the main theoretical approaches of it. It surveys the more important eras of the international relations such as the Westphalian system, ’’the long 19th century” and ’’the short 20th century”. The course eaxamines the actors of international relations: the nation-state, the international organizations (special regards to the United Nations and the NATO), the transnational corporations and the individuals. It analyses the means of foreign policy: especially the diplomacy and the phenomenon of war. It deals with the role of the international law and the ethics in IR. It introduces the process of globalization and its effects. And last but not least it examines the terrorism: the problem of its definition, the history of terrorism and the possible resposes to the international terrorism.
Number of Credits
3
Course Code
Title:
Widening Europe. The European Neighbourhood Policy
Teacher:
Edit SOÓS, Faculty of Law, Department of Politology
Contact:
Module Aims
(minimum 210 characters)
The aim of the module is to give a comprehensive approach to the neighbourhood policy and the role of local/regional governments and civil society in the development of CBCs in Wider Europe.
Szeged is a ‘Gate of Europe’ towards Western Balkans. Knowledge about the Schengen border, migration policy, security policy and EU’s financial support programmes can promote the participants future studies in politics.
Module Subject
(minimum 350 characters)
The European Union is a community of values rooted in democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights, protection of minorities and market economy. All these are the essential prerequisites for political stability as well as for peaceful and sustained neighbourhood policy and socio-economic development.
The EU’s declared aim is to develop a zone of prosperity and a friendly neighbourhood — a ring of friends— with whom the European Union enjoys close, peaceful and co-operative relations. The enlarged Union has to face a significant number of minorities living in the new MSs and their adjacent countries. The creation of a tolerant and prosperous Europe does not depend only on co-operation between States. The flexible Schengen regime and the new Neighbourhood strategy can offer practical solutions to common problems at local and regional levels, citizens can build ‘bridges’ across the borders and contribute to 'Europe without new dividing lines'.
The course aims to introduce one of the most important issues of the US legal system: the operation, structure, and other basic features of the US federal judiciary. Getting familiarized with these key questions provides a great comparative topic for the students in connection to their home studies, for it gives a help to understand the main differences of civil procedures of the common law (adversarial system) and the continental regimes (inquisitorial system).
Module Subject
1. The Judicial System; 2. Course of a Civil Action; 2.1. Pleading Stage; 2.2. Discovery Stage; 2.3. Disposition without Trial; 2.4. Trial Procedure; 2.5. Judgments; 3. Federalism in Civil Procedure
The criminal law and criminal procedure law belong to those areas of law that show a major difference compared to the Continental criminal regimes. Therefore it is vital for the students to get familiarized with these aspects of the US law. The students will have a chance to learn the substantive and procedural regulations: starting from the theoretical background of criminal law finishing at the course of a criminal procedure, including arrest, trial, and conviction.
Module Subject
1. Elements of a Crime; 2. Special Offences; 3. Defenses to Criminal Liability; 4. Criminal Sanctions; 5. Criminal Justice Process; 5.1. Arrest; 5.2. Preliminary Hearing; 5.3. Trial; 5.4. Sentencing; 5.5 Appellate Review of Convictions
The students are taught by the lecturer in this course of the major rules of the federal regulations of evidence law in the United States. With the help of this course the participants can earn a new perspective on argumentation that they will be able to use in their future career with great success.
Module Subject
1. Character Evidence; 2. Examination of Witnesses; 3. Real & Demonstrative Evidence; 4. Hearsay and its Exceptions; 5. Confrontation Clause; 6. Expert Testimony; 7. Writings; 8. Making & Ruling on Objections; 9. Judicial Notice; 10. Burdens & Presumptions
Since 96% of civil cases settle before end of trial, and therefore only very few cases are actually tried in the United States, it seems to be inevitable to cover the process of litigation. The present course plans to cover civil litigation, and not criminal, with a focus on the real practice of the entire litigation process, not just trial practice.
Module Subject
1. Overview of the American Legal System; 2. Starting A Case – Filing a Complaint; 3. Responding to the Complaint; 4. Discovery – Getting Information About the Case; 5. Trying the Case; 6. Appeals
Introduction to the international, EU and Hungarian social security law
Teacher:
József HAJDÚ
Contact:
Level
Termin
All
Module Aims
This course explores the role of law regulating and ordering social security in Hungary. The regulation of the relations in field of social security and social assistance must be set in the context of the political, economical and historical development of Hungary.
Module Subject
In this course we are mainly concerned with the general characterization of social insurance and social assistance schemes, the development of health care and pension schemes in Hungary, and the present regulation of the Hungarian Social Security System. The first part of the course will address the basic facts of social security: social insurance and social assistance schemes, legal relation of social insurance, entitlement to social insurance, insured person, financing of social insurance and social assistance schemes. The second part of this course will focus on the Hungarian regulation of social seurity: payment of contribution, contribution rate, benefits, amount of benefits, revaloriation of benefits, rules of procedure.
Introduction to comparative law and comparative constitutional law
Teacher:
Attila BADÓ
Contact:
Level
Termin
All
Module Aims
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the major legal systems of the world and the foundations of comparative law. During the course, following the introduction of the major types of law, legal systems and the theory of comparative law, a comparative analysis will be carried out of specific legal institutions as well.
Module Subject
Students can improwe their knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon, continental and individual religious legal systems.
The more important topics of the course are the following:
1. The theoretical problems of comparative law.
2. Introduction to the world of the Anglo-Saxon legal systems.
3. German law.
4. French law.
5. Religious legal systems.
6. Comparative civil law.
7. Comparative criminal law.
Introduction to the Hungarian criminal law in comparative perspective
Teacher:
Krisztina KARSAI, Zsolt SZOMORA
Contact:
Level
Termin
SPRING
Module Aims
The main aim of the course is to introduce the students into the system of Hungarian criminal law. The comparative method of teaching serves the better understanding.
Module Subject
1. Overview of the history of the Hungarian criminal law (criminal justice)
2. Basic structures of criminal law (in Hungary and in other European countries)
3. Characteristics of the general part of the Hungarian criminal law (with comparative aspects)
4. Selected fields of the special part of the Hungarian criminal law (with comparative aspects)
5. Law of penal execution
6. Scenario-based comparative work (model case)
The seminar aims to give an introductory overview about the so called „alternative dispute resolution” (ADR) methods used in the United States. The litigation system in this country encourages parties to resolve their case and get to agreement outside the courtroom as the litigation itself is going on or even before it gets started. Depending on the nature of the case, the specific field of law and the parties’ needs there is a wide range of different ADR-methods the parties can choose, e.g. arbitration, mediation, conciliation, etc. During the course we will explore these and compare them to litigation as an already known method for students.
The course also aims to give an insight into the skills needed in mediation practice.
Module Subject
1. Session one:
• Introduction to Conflicts
• Conflicts and Conflict Theory
• Conflict and Dispute Resolution Processes
• The ADR-Movement
• The methods of alternative dispute resolution
• Negotiation, Negotiation Skills
2. Session two:
• Mediation
• Mediation in Practice
• Adjudicative Methods of Dispute Resolution
• Institutions dealing with dispute resolution
• Course paper due
The course aims to introduce students the basic English legal terminology of several fields of law that is necessary for lawyers, who plan to work in their future career as legal translators, or plan to work in international legal firms.
Module Subject
1. Introduction to the Legal System of the United States; 2. Contracts; 3. Labor Law; 4. International Trade; 5. Criminal Law; 6. Intellectual Property; 7. Alternative Dispute Resolution.
The course aims to present key aspects of the formation, execution and extinction of private law contracts as well as selected issues related to modification, breach and legal effect from a practical and comparative legal perspective. Students will have the opportunity to compare and analyse solutions offered by different legal systems through sample cases and selected legal materials. The course also offers an introduction to past and current harmonisation efforts concerning the areas of contract law under discussion.
Module Subject
Offer and acceptance; Cause and consideration; Revocability of an offer; Modification of a contract; Legal effects of a breach of contract; The role of fault in liability for breach of contract; Clausula rebus sic stantibus; Contracts and transfer of property, Applicable law to cross-border contracts; The future of European contract law
Unité d’enseignement de Politiques communautaires avec spécialisation Europe centrale et orientale: droit européen de l’énergie, droit européen de l’environnement, politique commerciale, intégration économique et monétaire
Unité d’enseignement de droit et politiques en Europe Centrale et orientale: Histoire de l’Europe centrale et orientale, protection des minorités, Espace Schengen et les frontières extérieures, U.E. et la Russie, U.E. et les Balkans, Table ronde d’experti
Cours de langue française - méthodologie de spécialité
Teacher:
Éric BLIN, Laureline CONGNARD
Contact:
Level
Termin
SPRING
Module Aims
Cours de langue française, technique de l’écritL’objectif du cours est d’apprendre à maîtriser et à appliquer les techniques de la structuration du discours français.
- Pratique et méthodologie du droit français
Ce cours se propose donc de présenter les méthodes de base utilisées en droit français ainsi que les termes téchniques les plus importants
- Pratique et méthodologie du droit européen
Le cours a pour objectif d’introduir les étudiants dans le language spécial du droit de l’Union Européenne à travers des exemples et exercices pratiques et en même temps de leur permettre d’acquérir la compétence de recherche individuelle et de la compréhension des documents communautaires.
- Méthodologie juridique
L’objectif du cours est d’apprendre à maîtriser et à appliquer les méthodes juridiques connues par la méthodologie juridique française.
Module Subject
Cours de langue française, technique de l’écrit
- Pratique et méthodologie du droit français
- Pratique et méthodologie du droit européen
- Méthodologie juridique
Introduction to international, EU and Hungarian labour law
Teacher:
József HAJDÚ
Contact:
Level
Termin
Module Aims
The aim of the course is to assist students in mastering the theoretical and practical questions of labour law, specific regulations and principles of enforcement. The course pays special attention to the question of how the international and EU norms of labour law fit into the internal legal system of Hungary.
Module Subject
The topics:
(1) The notion of labour law. Defining labour law, its system of regulations. The development of labour law. (2) The fundamental questions of international and European labour law and their impact on Hungarian labour law. (3) The general dispositions of the Labour Code (fundamental principles). The notion of employment, definition and topics. (4) Employment and the service contract. Amending the service contract. (5) The rights and obligations of the employer and the employee. (6) Working hours and time off. (7) Payment for labour. (8) Termination of employment I-II. (9) The system of liability in labour law. (10) The employee's indemnity bond. (11) The employer's indemnity bond. (12) Special regulations applying to leaders. (13) The notion of collective labour law, the system and topics. (14) Trade unions. (15) Negotiations between social partners. (16) The collective agreement. (17) The employees' right to participate. (18) The system and characteristics of labour disputes. (19) Direct action in labour law (strike and lock out). (20) The divergent regulations of labour law in the public sector. (21) Labour management (with special regard to supervisory (labour, occupational safety) measures taken by the authorities. (22) Consultation.
Einführung in die ungarische Strafrechtsgeschichte
Teacher:
Elemér BALOGH
Contact:
Level
Termin
All
Module Aims
Das Ziel des Kurses ist es, in die Entwicklungsgeschichte des ungarischen materiellen Strafrechts, von den Anfängen bis zur Geburt des modernen Strafgesetzbuches, einzuführen.
Module Subject
1. Die Epochen der Strafrechtsgeschichte
a) Rache
b) Komposition
c) Die staatliche Staatsgewalt
2. Grundinstitute des ungarischen ständischen Strafrechts
a) Rechtsquellen
b) Deliktengruppen
c) Sanktionen
3. Die bürgerliche Epoche
a) Kodifikationsversuche
b) Das erste ungarische Strafgesetzbuch
Die Zielsetzung der Lehrveranstaltung ist einen Überblick über die ungarische Strafrechtslehre und -System den ausländischen Jurastudenten zu übermitteln.
Module Subject
1. Kurze rechtshistorische Einführung
2. Das ungarische Strafverfolgungssystem
3. Schwerpunkt: Institutionen und Systematik des Allgemeinen Teils des ungarischen Strafrechts (mit rechtsvergleichenden Aspekten)
4. Grundzüge des ungarischen Kriminalpolitik (mit vergleichenden Aspekten)
In der Sprachübung soll die sprachliche Verständnis- und Ausdrucksfähigkeit der Studierenden in der deutschen Rechtssprache trainiert werden. Angestrebt wird, dass die Studierenden auch schwierige juristische Texte verstehen können und dass sie selbst anspruchsvoll juristische Texte auf Deutsch formulieren können.
Module Subject
In der Sprachübungen werden die sprachlichen Fähigkeiten der Studierenden in der deutschen Rechtssprache auf verschiedene Weise gefördert. Oft wird dabei eine inhaltliche Orientierung an den parallel stattfindenden Vorlesungen vorgenommen. So wird zunächst das juristische Fachvokabular aus dem jeweils behandelten Fachgebiet eintrainiert. Zu den typischen Übungen gehören solche des Lese-Verstehens. Die eigene Ausdrucksfähigkeit der Studierenden wird durch das Verfassen von Texten sowie durch die mündliche Beteiligung am Kurs gefördert. Darüber hinaus finden kleine Testaufgaben wie Lückentexte oder Verständnisübungen statt.
Deutsches und Europäisches Gesellschafts- und Handelsrecht
Teacher:
Felix OELKERS
Contact:
Level
Termin
All
Module Aims
Der Kurs soll einen Überblick über die verschiedenen Gesellschaftsformen nach dem deutschen Gesellschaftsrecht sowie über die spezifischen Rechtsinstitute des deutschen Handelsrechts (geregelt im Handelsgesetzbuch, HGB) geben. Der Kurs baut damit auf dem Grundwissen der Studierenden zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch (BGB) auf und vertieft dieses. Außerdem werden der Einfluss des europäischen Rechts auf das Gesellschafts- und Handelsrecht behandelt.
Module Subject
Einführung zum Gesellschaftsrecht; die Gesellschaft des bürgerlichen Rechts (BGB-Gesellschaft), §§ 705 ff. BGB; die offene Handelsgesellschaft (OHG), die Kommanditgesellschaft (KG); die Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung nach dem GmbHG; die Unternehmergesellschaft (UG); die Aktiengesellschaft (AG) nach dem AktG; Einführung und Überblick zum Handelsgesetzbuch (HGB); Anwendung des Handelsgesetzbuchs durch Modifizierung der Bestimmungen des BGB; Begriff des Kaufmanns, §§ 1 ff. HGB; Firmenrecht, §§ 17 ff. HGB; Handelsgeschäfte §§ 343 ff. HGB
In diesem Kurs sollen die Studierenden einen Überblick zum Wirtschaftsstrafrecht erhalten. Zu diesem Zweck werden die relevanten Normen des deutschen Strafgesetzbuches sowie speziellere strafrechtliche Vorschriften in anderen Gesetzen behandelt. Angesichts der steigenden Bedeutung dieses Rechtsgebietes werden auch praktische Probleme in der Verfolgung von Wirtschaftsstraftaten an aktuellen Fällen diskutiert.
Module Subject
Einführung und Überblick zum Wirtschaftsstrafrecht; Normen im Strafgesetzbuch zum Wirtschaftsstrafrecht: Betrug, Untreue; Strafrechtliche Verantwortlichkeit in einem Unternehmen, § 14 StGB; Unternehmenssanktionen; Kapitalmarkt- und Finanzmarktstrafrecht; Strafrechtliche Normen im Gesellschaftsrecht; Strafrechtliche Bestimmungen im Wettbewerbs- und Kartellrecht
Deutsches und Europäisches Verfahrens- und Kollisionsrecht
Teacher:
Steffen SCHREIBER
Contact:
Level
Termin
All
Module Aims
Der Kurs zum deutschen und europäischen Verfahrens- und insbesondere zum Kollisionsrecht soll den Studierenden einen fundierten Einblick in die Verfahren und die Anwendung von Rechtsnormen im internationalen Rechtsverkehr geben. Die Methoden und Rechtsquellen des Internationalen Privatrechts werden detailliert behandelt werden mit dem Ziel, die Studierenden zu einer selbständigen Bearbeitung von Rechtsfällen in diesem Bereich zu befähigen.
Module Subject
Methoden und allgemeine Rechtsinstitute des Internationalen Privatrechts; Rechtsquellen des Internationalen Privatrechts; Überblick über die wesentlichen Kollisionsnormen; Einführung in die Rechtsvergleichung; Überblick zum Internationalen Zivilverfahrensrecht; internationale Zuständigkeit; Gerichtsbarkeit; ausländische Rechtshängigkeit; Anerkennung und Durchsetzung von Urteilen; Rechtsstellung von Ausländern und ausländischen Firmen in einem Rechtsstreit
1. Überblick gewinnen über die möglichen und tatsächlichen Europäisierungsfaktoren im Strafrecht
2. Evaluierung der mitgliedstaatlichen Strafrechtssystemen, wie sie sich durch die Europäisierung entwickelt haben
3. Entwicklung der rechtsvergleichende Fähigkeiten
Module Subject
Die zentralen Europäisierungsfaktoren – wie z. B. das Assimilierungsprinzip, der Anwendungsvorrang des Gemeinschaftsrechts, die gemeinschaftsrechtskonforme Auslegung sowie die Harmonisierung des Strafrechts in der „ersten“ und „dritten“ Säule der EU – werden während der Vorlesung im Einzelnen beleuchtet. Mit Hinblick auf den Vertrag von Lissabon werden die wichtigsten Konsequenzen des Vertrages behandelt und die möglichen weiteren Entwicklungstendenzen des europäischen Strafrechts diskutiert. Auch die Methode der Rechtsvergleichung wird während der Kurs angewendet und untersucht ob die verschiedenen Europäisierungsfaktoren in den einzelnen MS ähnlich funktionieren.
The course aims at familiarising students with the bases of the Hungarian civil litigation. The subject concentrates on the structure of the Code of Civil Procedure (Polgári perrendtartás – Pp.) throwing light upon the latest developments and future prospects. The course tries to give an overall picture of an ordinary civil action in Hungary, taking into account the basic court practice.
Module Subject
Planned topics: Principles of civil procedure; Judicial organisation: the court structure, the bar, notaries public, court bailiffs; Jurisdiction; Actions and claims; First instance procedure; Review proceedings: appeal and extraordinary remedies; Legal aid, legal costs; Evidence; Particular proceedings.
The student may and can get acquainted with the types of Hungarian business organizations, the foundation and registration of Hungarian companies, the differences and similarities between the Hungarian companies, and law-comparison within the EU company law on the ground of Hungarian company law.
Module Subject
Hungarian company law: principles, concept of company (analysation), types of companies (similarities, differences), foundation and registration,contents of memorandum of association,
organs of companies, protection of minority, liquidation of company, unlimited and limited partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, stock company, law of concerns, European Economic Interest Grouping, Societas Europaea
Die römischrechtlichen Wurzeln des europäischen Privatrechts (The Roman Law Tradition in European Private Law)
Teacher:
Éva JAKAB
Contact:
Level
Termin
SPRING
Module Aims
The subject deals with private law, the current laws of which date back to ancient Roman times. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the historical roots of legal institutions and lays emphasis on both similar and divergent codification solutions through a comparative analysis of European private law. It is hoped that students will participate actively in class, which can best be achieved with a limited number of participants. Oral reports presented in class by students on topics of their own choosing will play a decisive role in the final grade.
Module Subject
The main topics of the course:
* The Medieval Rediscovery of Private Law
* The General Influence of Roman Institutions of State and Public
* The Development of European Private Law: A Romanist Watershed?
* The Canon Law and the Civilian Influence
* The Civil Law in European Codes
* Civilian elements in European Legal Procedure
* The Role and Relevance of the Civil Law Tradition in the Work of the European Court of Justice
* The Influence of the Civil Law, via Modern Legal Systems, on European Community Law
L’objectif du cours est d’expliquer le système du droit public hongrois à des étudiants étrangers ayant déjà des connaissance de base en droit constitutionnel. Le cours présente le système institutionnel constitutionnel hongrois et le système de la protection des droits de l’homme et des libertés fondamentales. Il utilise une approche du droit comparé en mettant l’accent sur les connaissances constitutionnelles que les étudiants ont déjà acquiertes. Ainsi il permet aux étudiants d’avoir une vision globale du droit constitutionnel hongrois.
Module Subject
Le cours permet aux étudiants d’apprendre les notions et les institutions de base du droit public et notamment du droit constitutionnel hongrois en faisant une approche comparative entre le système hongrois et les systèmes constitutionnels des Etats européens. 1. La définition hongroise de la Constitution, du droit constitutionnel et de la constitutionnalité 2. Approche globale du système institutionnel constitutionnel hongrois 3. Le modèle hongrois du parlementarisme, la méthode hongroise du scrutin, le statut des parlementaires 4. L’exécutif hongrois, le système gouvernemental hongrois, le rôle du premier ministre, le statut des ministres 5. Le système juridictionnel hongrois, le statut des juges, les principes constitutionnels relatifs à l’organisation juridictionnelle et aux magistrats 6. Les finances publiques, la Banque centrale, la Cour des comptes 7. Les dispositions spéciales dans la Constitution hongroise 8. Les dispositions constitutionnelles relatives à la participation de la Hongrie dans l’intégration européenne 9. Le système hongrois de la protection des droits de l’homme et des libertés fondamentales – une étude comparative
The course intends to give a structural view on the separation of powers, competences of public authorities, legislation, legal sources and the fundamental rights in the constitutional system of the Hungarian Republic. It provides a common basis for further comparative studies in other branches of law.
Module Subject
The curriculum covers 5 pillars: (1) constitutional reform and flexible basic law in Hungary (1989-2009) and membership in the EU (2) the parliamentary system (3) the law-making system and legal sources (4) fundamental rights and their limitation (5) protection of fundamental rights and the constitutional values. Through the consultations with students the main features of the Hungarian constitutional regime would be comparable with the home country’s constitutional system of the students participating on the course.
The course intends to give a structural view on the non-profit law in Hungary and through the infrastructure of the Legal Clinic some practical information ongoing legal cases and meeting with civil organisations also support to the education of foreign students on non-discrimination rules.
Module Subject
The curricula covers on 3 pillars: (1) the most important rules on the free operation of civil sector in Hungary due to the fundamental rights (2) what are the main components of free legal aid system for persons in need in Hungary (3) what is the practice of civil sector and legal counselling provided by law students and tutor law practitioners. Visits in NGOs are managed. Student participating on the course have to write a case study (max. 10 pages) on the base of the meeting, visit and personal consultations. This course may contribute to understand the protection/violation of fundamental rights in practice in Hungary.
The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the relationship between the study of law and the legal culture and society in various countries. Training in the law depends first of all on the institutions, culture and legal system of a given culture. The form and manner of education are determined by historical and cultural factors. Within the framework of the course the problem mentioned above will be taken under analysis through a comparison of the similarities and differences among various countries.
Module Subject
The subjects of the course are the following:
The aim and function of legal education including sociological theories on education, the history of legal education in the United States, England, Europe, and Hungary, the major legal systems and related questions, legal education in various states today (USA, GB, Germany, Hungary), the relationship between legal theory and legal education, the impact of legal education on the legal community and the functioning of law.
Political Science and the Analysis of Security Services
Teacher:
Béla RÉVÉSZ
Contact:
Level
Termin
SPRING
Module Aims
The course raises the following crucial question: What wise and effective policies can help in the continuing, and difficult, battle to protect human rights against the secret services? The post-World War II era of international politics can be divided into two periods. The first, the cold war, ran from roughly 1947 to 1989 and was characterized by a bipolar distribution of power between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was a period of great tension between the two superpowers, and this tense relationship had enormous impact on defining the world political system. The second period, which we are still in, is what might be called the post-cold war period. It began in 1990 with the collapse of the communist world.
Looking back to the recent past and attempting to comprehend it, it is very important to understand how broadly and deeply the totalitarianism may affect the cornerstones of contemporary civilization and the extent of feedback impact. The secret services of totalitarianism destroy the institutes of democracy, curtail the freedom of the individual to the maximum, and paralyze the most diverse spheres of civil activity. It is the idea of freedom - the most essential phenomenon of the 20th-century - existing as a political phenomenon under the conditions of totalitarianism that will be the object of this course. The course will discuss the genesis and functions of political repressions, focusing on the specificity of historical experience in the Middle-European countries, analyzing the mechanisms of secret services of totalitarian regime, regarding the practice of democracies.
Module Subject
Spying dates back to early days of human history. Wars of conquests, raids and forays for slaves and treasure formed the nature thereof. With a slight exaggeration, spying and mankind are of the same age. Although it is our inborn characteristic to be curious about other people's business, at the dawn of human history the survival of individuals and smaller communities depended on their awareness of the surrounding world. This essential demand for information meant the elementary form of "intelligence gathering". The "job of a spy" is to pry into the confidential secrets of the adverse party and to inform those from whom the secrets were concealed from.
If espionage was the invisible front of the Cold War, one of the major battlefields was at home. Nations regularly spied on their own citizens to gain advantage against the enemy or to maintain their own positions of power. In the West, legal limits on domestic espionage were stretched or broken; in the East, there usually were no limits. Cold War fears of subversion provided an excuse for civil rights abuses and the growth of secret police forces on both sides of the Iron Curtain. The monolithic structure of power suspends all public political discussions and prohibits the development and articulation of alternatives. The ruling elite cannot tolerate the public sphere in any form. The one-party system is a dictatorial form of domination which could function equally well without a party. Party and state organs cannot be differentiated at any level of the hierarchy of power. The unity of economic, political, ideological and legal power gives rise to the system's totalitarian character. Even when the system functions relatively „well” and no direct political terror is apparent, it nevertheless remains totalitarian, for there is no sphere of daily life void of political significance. The power apparatus is likewise incapable of generating a persuasive social theory because proletarian dictatorship has kept none of the promises made by its legitimating ideology.
Operating without any civil control in Hungary, as well, the organization generated public fear especially as methods of forced interrogation that were used to make innocent prisoners plead guilty transpired. Hungarian people lived in total uncertainty of existence and property, in fear of denouncers, police relocations and compulsory delivery of agricultural products. The state propaganda tried to disprove that the secret services were a group of ruthless people estranged from their fellow citizens. At the same time, the press played a key role in maintaining the portrayal of the enemy and a constant feeling of endangerment.
During the formation of the new world-order following the disintegration of the bipolar world, the era of the change of political system of the Eastern European states commenced. The demolition of the previous political establishment began in Hungary, too. The demand for a detailed legal regulation of national security activity was expressed in the course of the change of regime, in 1989-1990. As part of the change, like in other Eastern European countries, the position, role and future tasks of the security services had to be defined. Previously the so called state security work in Hungary was carried out on the basis of low level secret regulations, which severely limited basic human rights laid down in the Constitution.
After the collapse of the communist regime in Hungary, the secret services were fully reorganised. In January 1990 the Parliament framed Act X of 1990 on the interim regulation of special clandestine means and methods, which authorised the national security services and the criminal services of the police to use these means and methods. This was already an overt regulation containing the most important elements guaranteeing the lawful application of clandestine methods, and the defence of basic civil rights. The structure of the National Security Office was formed in such a way that it was able to ensure the fulfilment of all the tasks the changing society demanded regarding the defence of its sovereignty and internal order. Parallel to the restructuring of the service the security vetting of the staff was also started as a result of which a refreshed service commenced its activity. In a relatively short time the Office managed to stabilise its structure. It has become independent, free of political and party influence, open to society and sensitive to problems, so it is able to complete its most important security tasks. The results are even more valuable if we consider that they were reached under strict financial restrictions, backed by modest technical support, accompanied by an uneven but continuous fluctuation of the staff.
After a long preparatory phase the Parliament accepted Act CXXV of 1995 on National Security in December 1995, taking into consideration international experiences as well as domestic relations. The Act, which came into force in March 1996, comprehensively regulates the operation of the services. It enumerates the national security services and their tasks and defines the means and methods of covert information gathering. The National Security Office has become an important part of the democratic establishment of the country.
Introduction to the Hungarian Public Administration Law
Teacher:
Zoltán JÓZSA
Contact:
Level
Termin
SPRING
Module Aims
The lecture provides a chronological overwiew of the political, economical and legal changes which resulted in a radical transformation of the institutional and organisation structure and scope of Hungarian public administration from 1990. It begins with ivestigation into the circumstances of the establisment of the Hungarian system of local government, as, curiosly, the development of democratic public administration sprang from local level. The influences of the system of local governments which has existed for over 10 years will be demonstrated, as will the process of the establishment of a regional level. The course provides an overview of conceptions on the reform of the middle level of public administration(decentralised agencies) as vell. Furthermore, it takes into acoount the technical and political factors which have played a role in the process. Finally, taking into consideration the change in the government every four years, the course will analyse in detail how this affects the system and the responsabilities of central agencies. It will culminate in a summary of the salient features of the Hungarian public administrative system.
Module Subject
1. Constitutional basis.
2. The role of the prime minister and the government.
3. Consultative and advisory bodies of central administration.
4. The structure and functions of deconcentrated organs.
5. Supervision, controlling and directing among the units of public institutions.
6. Establishment of local government system.
7. The structure and functions of local government: legal autonomy and local government accountability.
8. Finance of local authorities.
9. Cooperations of local institutions.
10. The modernisation process: regionalisation.
Die relevanten Aspekte der europäischen Umweltpolitik
Teacher:
Szilvia HORVÁTH
Contact:
Level
Termin
Module Aims
Erstens möchte dieser Kurs den Jurastudenten einen breiteren Einblick in die deutschsprachige Europarechtsterminologie der Umweltpolitik bieten, zweitens ermöglicht eine breitere Darstellung der europäischen Umweltpolitik von den umweltpolitischen Aktionsprogrammen, allgemeine Regeln bis zur Rechtssprechung des Europäischen Gerichtshofes.
Module Subject
Einführung in die deutschsprachige Terminologie des Europäischen Umweltrechts
Entstehung des Umweltrechts in der Europäischen Union
Wichtige Rechtsdokumente der Umweltpolitik (Primärrecht)
Grundprinzipien in den umweltpolitischen Aktionsprogrammen
Akteure der europäischen Umweltpolitik und Umweltrechtsetzung
Sekundärrecht:
Allgemeine Regeln I. (Umweltinformation, Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung, Umweltzeichen, finanzielle Instrumente)
Allgemeine Regeln II. (Umweltmanagement und Umweltbetriebsprüfung, Integrierte Vermeidung und Verminderung der Umweltverschmutzung)
Grundzüge der sektoralen Regelungen (Luft, Abfall, Gewässer, Lärm, Boden, natürliche Umwelt)
Wirkungen anderer Sektoren auf den Umweltschutz, wie Energiepolitik, Wettbewerbspolitik
„Grundurteile” des Europäischen Gerichtshofes im Bereich des Umweltschutzes