Politics of Post-Soviet Russia & Ukraine (369-0-1)
Instructors
Jordan Gans-Morse
Meeting Info
Scott Hall 212: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
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)
Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel, Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States (Polity, 2024) (978-1509557370)
Class Attributes
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - Harris Hall L04: Thurs 2:00PM - 2:50PM