Politics and Societies in the BRICS States

2022/2023

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

4

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

3 year, 1, 2 module

Instructors

Arkatov, Dmitry

Morozova, Valentina

Smirnova, Olga

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course ‘Politics and society in BRICS countries’ covers main issues of current political, social and economic development of BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Main goal of the course is to provide students with solid data and insights in internal issues of BRICS countries through reading relevant literature and having in-class discussions.

Learning Objectives

• As the major learning outcome, we expect students to learn how to conduct high-qualified research on political and social aspects of development on foreign countries and prepare themselves to work with complex international issues.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• can solve professional problems based on synthesis and analysis
• can retrieve, collect, process and analyze information relevant for achieving goals in the professional field
• can find, define and use the information from different sources required for solving of research and professional problems

Course Contents

• Introduction to BRICS
• Brazil
• Russia and BRICS
• India
• China - traditional values in modern politics, business, society
• South Africa
• Summary of the course

Assessment Elements

• In-Class Activities (Discussions & In-Class Presentations)
• Quizzes
  Tests are conducted after the lectures and seminars to check the knowledge of the material.
• Final Essay
• Exam
  A student can be exempted from the exam on the lecturer's decision. If this is the case the grade for the course is grade point average for other forms of assessment. If not, the student is given 1 question and has 60 minutes to answer it.

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 2nd module
  0.2 * In-Class Activities (Discussions & In-Class Presentations) + 0.3 * Quizzes + 0.3 * Final Essay + 0.2 * Exam

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Pan, C. (2015). Understanding Chinese Identity in International Relations: A Critique of Western Approaches. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.B31BB10D
• Why traditional Chinese philosophy still matters : the relevance of ancient wisdom for the global..., , 2019

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Harry Irwin. (1996). Communicating with Asia : Understanding People and Customs. Routledge.