St. Petersburg: The Topography and Legacy of Imperial and Soviet History

July 21 – August 1

In-person

Language: English

During this course you will be immersed in the unique history of Saint Petersburg from its founding to the end of the 20th century.

Course Description

In 1712, Tsar Peter of Russia made an audacious decision by moving his court to a newly established townlet in a remote and poorly populated area on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Ultimately, however, the new city of St Petersburg concentrated an enormous amount of political power and cultural capital in an empire that covered most of Northern Eurasia and even stretched into North America. After the 1917 Revolution, the city lost its imperial status and suffered extreme devastation during the Russian Civil War, the Second World War, and the post-Soviet transition. Over the course of the 20th century, however, it also gained special status as an alternative city in comparison to Moscow and remains an important regional economic and cultural centre today.

The Summer School explores this turbulent and often difficult history with a special focus on the political and cultural space of the city. Often in the shadow of other imperial capitals, St Petersburg in fact offers an interesting vantage point to examine the entanglements of global, imperial, and regional histories, the ambiguities and inequalities of modernisation, the emergence of the modern urban self, and the legacies of the past in a contemporary city.

Why Choose This Course?

Unique field trips to off-the-beaten-track locations

Highly experienced team of instructors

Creative and engaging learning formats

Content

Main Concepts: Topography, Legacy, Empire
Before 1703: Indigenous Stories and Global Entanglements on the Neva
18^th Century St Petersburg
Topography of Political Crime: Peter and Paul Fortress
The Religious Landscape of St Petersburg
Behind the Imperial Façade: Working-Class St Petersburg
The Russian Revolution of 1917
Planning the Socialist City
Capital of Crime? St Petersburg since the 1990s
Final Colloquium
Field trips to downtown St Petersburg, Shlissel’burg, Kronshtadt, Pushkin, and allotment societies in the Leningrad Region

Skills and Competence

Develop a strong knowledge of the St Petersburg;
Develop the ability to think critically about major trends and developments in the history of St Petersburg:
Identify key narratives, actors and institutions of historical memory in contemporary St Petersburg;
Plan and carry out a group project related to a field of St Peterburg history, culture, and the politics of commemoration.

Teaching Methods

Faculty presentations, workshops (partially held in the urban space of St Petersburg), group projects.

Prerequisites

The Summer School is designed for students in the humanities and social sciences but is in principle open for applicants from other disciplines. Knowledge of Russian is not required as all the lectures, seminars and excursions will be in English. Basic knowledge of the history of the country and contemporary Russia are desirable, but not essential. The summer school welcomes students from all foreign and Russian universities.

Final Assessment

Essay (5-6 pages).

Final Grade Background

50% Group project presentation + 50% Final essay.

Course is taught by

Associate Professor Alexandra Bekasova; Associate Professor Tatiana Borisova; Associate Professor Lorenz Erren; Senior Lecturer Ekaterina Kalemeneva; Associate Professor Alexandra Kasatkina; Senior Lecturer Igor Kuziner; Associate Professor Alexander Reznik; Dean, professor Adrian Selin; Senior Lecturer Pavel Vasilyev.