Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies.
Description
A one term seminar on the political and social modernization of Russia during the last century, in which the students prepare and discuss written and oral presentations on the basis of selected documents and a textbook, adding up to a final session for the discussion of the students’ concluding theses on the current position of Russia in the world and the legacy of her past.
<table><tr><td>Session</td> <td>Subject</td> <td>Kenez p.</td> <td>Sakwa p.</td> <td>Class</td> </tr><tr><td>1</td> <td>Introduction: Russia in turmoil</td> <td>1-14</td> <td>-</td> <td>Assignments</td> </tr><tr><td>2</td> <td>Leninism and state building</td> <td>1-80</td> <td>1-127</td> <td>Presentations and Discussions</td> </tr><tr><td>3</td> <td>Stalinism and social engineering</td> <td>80-132</td> <td>127-234</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>4</td> <td>The Great Patriotic War</td> <td>132-160</td> <td>234-289</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>5</td> <td>Cold Peace and superpower</td> <td>160-184</td> <td>289-313</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>6</td> <td>Thaw and confrontation</td> <td>184-214</td> <td>313-351</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>7</td> <td>Transformation and stagnation</td> <td>184-214</td> <td>313-351</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>8</td> <td>Crisis and perestroika</td> <td>234-278</td> <td>423-487</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>9</td> <td>The reincarnation of Russia</td> <td>278-305</td> <td>recent source</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>10</td> <td>Russia as democracy</td> <td>recent articles on blackboard</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>11</td> <td>Russia in the world</td> <td>recent articles on blackboard</td> <td>“</td> </tr><tr><td>12</td> <td>Group’s theses</td> <td>-</td> <td>-</td> <td>Round table</td></tr></table>### Course objectives
Knowledge of the main political and social history of Soviet and post-Soviet Russia.
Ability in analyzing sources and giving written and oral presentations.
Insight in the dynamics of change and modernization in a multinational empire.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
One two hour lecture per week, four tutorials spread out over the semester.
Assessment method
One essay (30%), a midterm and a final exam (together 70%)
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used. Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.
Reading list
Textbook:
Peter Kenez, A history of the Soviet Union from the beginning to the end (2nd ed. Cambridge UP; Cambridge 2006)Sourcebook:
Richard Sakwa, The rise and fall of the Soviet Union, 1917-1991 Routledge sources in history series (Routledge reprint 2009; Londen 1999)
Registration
Students are requested to register through uSis, the registration system of Leiden University for this course. General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable
Remarks
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