ClassInfo - Spring 2018 Political Science Classes

Spring 2018 | POL 3474 Section 001: Russian Politics: From Soviet Empire to Post-Soviet State (52525)

Instructor(s): https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/colli433" target="lookup">Kathleen Collins
Malina Toza (TA)
Class Component:: Lecture
Credits:: 3 Credits
Grading Basis:: A-F or Audit
Instructor Consent:: No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:: In Person Term Based
Times and Locations:: Regular Academic Session

01/16/2018 - 05/04/2018

Mon, Wed 09:45AM - 11:00AM

UMTC, West Bank

Blegen Hall 130
Enrollment Status:: Closed (55 of 55 seats filled)

Course Catalog Description:: Twenty five years ago, Russia appeared to be democratizing and was even on friendly relations with the US and NATO. Now Vladimir Putin runs the state with the FSB (KGB), and US-Russian relations are at their worst point since the 1970s. This course examines major themes and periods in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russian politics. It begins with the Russian Revolution of 1917, and continues with a study of the creation of the USSR and Soviet rule under Lenin, Stalin, and later decades. We look in depth at the economic and political system set up by the Communist Party, and at the causes of its collapse in 1991, which has had profound legacies for the post-Soviet development of Russia. Then in the second half of the course we turn to themes of political, economic, social and civic development under Yeltsin and Putin. We will pose the following questions: Why does democratization begin and why does it fail? How is economic reform undermined? What type of state and regime is Russia now? What caused the Chechen wars and the massive bloodshed in the Caucasus during this period? Is Putin trying to recreate the Soviet Union and retake control of its neighbors? Are US-Russian relations improving as a result of Obama's "Reset," or are we now in an era of a new Cold War? What is Russia's goal in Syria, Iran, or Central Asia? Is Putin rebuilding Russia, or driving it to disaster, and how will this impact the West?
Class Notes:: http://classinfo.umn.edu/?colli433+POL3474+Spring2018
Class Description:: Twenty five years ago, Russia appeared to be democratizing and was even on friendly relations with the US and NATO. Now Vladimir Putin runs the state with the FSB (KGB), and US-Russian relations are at their worst point since the 1970s. This course examines major themes and periods in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russian politics. It begins with the Russian Revolution of 1917, and continues with a study of the creation of the USSR and Soviet rule under Lenin, Stalin, and later decades. We look in depth at the economic and political system set up by the Communist Party, and at the causes of its collapse in 1991, which has had profound legacies for the post-Soviet development of Russia. Then in the second half of the course we turn to themes of political, economic, social and civic development under Yeltsin and Putin. We will pose the following questions: Why does democratization begin and why does it fail? How is economic reform undermined? What type of state and regime is Russia now? What caused the Chechen wars and the massive bloodshed in the Caucasus during this period? Is Putin trying to recreate the Soviet Union and retake control of its neighbors? Are US-Russian relations improving as a result of Obama's "Reset," or are we now in an era of a new Cold War? What is Russia's goal in Ukraine, Syria, Iran, or Central Asia? Is Putin rebuilding Russia, or driving it to disaster, and how will this impact the West?
Grading:: TBD
Exam Format:: Final in class exam
Class Format:: Lecture and discussion
Workload:: The coursework involves significant reading (about 75-100 pages per week), a research paper, class participation, one final exam, and 4-5 short writing assignments.
Textbooks:: https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/52525/1183
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:: 25 October 2016

ClassInfo Links - Spring 2018 Political Science Classes

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