Politics of Post-Soviet Russia (369-0-20)

Instructors

Jordan Luc Gans-Morse

Meeting Info

Swift Hall 107: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

When Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he turned the international order upside down, initiated the largest war in Europe in over half a century, and set the stage for Russia's return to totalitarianism. How did this catastrophic turn of events come to be, and what will happen next? This course analyzes the political, economic, and foreign policy upheavals that shook Russia and Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Through the lens of the Russian and Ukrainian experiences, we will examine key concepts in comparative politics, such as revolution, regime change, market formation, nationalism, and state building. We will also consider key international relations debates pertaining to NATO enlargement, Russian imperialism, and other topics essential to understanding Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing geopolitical crisis it unleashed.

Teaching Method

Lectures & discussion section

Evaluation Method

Midterm: 25% Paper: 25% Final: 30%

Class Materials (Required)

Daniel Treisman, The Return: Russia's Journey from Gorbachev to Medvedev (Free Press, 2011) (978-1416560722) • Timothy Frye, Weak Strongman: The Limits of Power in Putin's Russia (Princeton University Press, 2021) [e-book available via NU library]

Class Attributes

Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

Associated Classes

DIS - Locy Hall 111: Thurs 4:00PM - 4:50PM

DIS - Locy Hall 214: Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM