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Politics Russia and Eurasia

Vak
2016-2017

Admission requirements

This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies.
Limited places are also open for exchange students. Please note: this course takes place in The Hague.

Description

The course looks at political developments in Russia and post-Soviet Eurasia from the collapse of the USSR to the present day and the relative successes and failures of democratization or authoritarian consolidation in the region. It provides a unique opportunity to investigate the collapse of a superpower and its aftermath. Due to its importance and size there will be a particular focus on the Russian Federation, however the course will also examine other post-Soviet republics from Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus or Central Asia through the perspective of comparative politics. Students will build on many of the concepts in political science they have covered earlier on the program, applying them within the diverse context of the post-Soviet political experience – from Ukraine to Uzbekistan.

Course objectives

Students gain insight into the politics of the Russia and post-Soviet Eurasia in the context of the transition from communism to democracy, authoritarianism or hybrid regimes. They will examine the relevance of comparative political theories and concepts to developments in the region and learn where and why countries in Eurasia have followed different political trajectories in spite of their common Soviet past.

Timetable

The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website

Mode of instruction

One two hour lecture per week; tri-weekly tutorials.

Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform the tutor of the course in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent without notification and valid reason or not being present at half or more of the tutorial sessions will mean your assignments will not be assessed, and result in a 1.0 for the tutorial (30% of the final grade).

Course Load

Total course load for this course is 5 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), this equals 140 hours, broken down by:

  • Attending lectures: 2 hours per week x 12 weeks: 24 hrs

  • Attending tutorials 2 hours per three weeks: 8 hrs

  • Assessment hours (midterms and final exam): 4 hrs

  • Time for studying the compulsory literature: 68 hrs

  • Time for completing assignments, preparation classes and exams: 36 hrs

Assessment method

Assessment

Midterm Exam:

  • Written examination with short/medium open questions

Final exam:

  • Written examination with essay questions

Weighing

Tutorials 30%
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 40 %

To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following: the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.

Resit

If the final grade is insufficient (lower than a 6), there is the possibility of retaking the full 70% of the exam material, replacing both the earlier mid- and endterm grades. No resit for the tutorials is possible.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrolment in uSis

Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.

Reading list

Selected articles and book chapters are provided by the lecturer via Blackboard.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable

Contact

Dr. M.J. Frear