The course deals with the position of the Balkans, including Turkey, in international relations from the 19th century up until today. It adopts a systemic approach and examines how the countries of the wider Balkan region have been affected over time by their place in different political systems. In this regard the course will deal more extensively with: 1) The 19th century and the so-called Eastern Question; 2) The consequences of the breakdown of the socialist order in Eastern Europe after 1990; 3) The emergence of Turkey as a regional power. The classes have the character of seminaries which requires the active participation of the students. The students will be required to write an essay of 15 pages as part of the course requirement. This should introduce her/him to the formal and creative aspects of academic writing. The subject for the essay can be selected to complement the planned master thesis and consequently deal with other areas than the Balkans.