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Regular version of the site

Nationalism in Soviet Union and Post-Soviet Russia

2021/2022
Academic Year
ENG
Instruction in English
6
ECTS credits
Course type:
Elective course
When:
1 year, 1, 2 module

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course explores various issues of nationalism in Soviet and postSoviet Russia/Eurasia from the emergence of the Soviet Union up to recent developments. Students will familiarize themselves with the Soviet and post-Soviet nationalities policies as well as with ethnic problems and conflicts in the USSR/ Eurasia. Students will be also able to analyze the logic of decision-making in the Soviet nationalities policy and realize political potential and prospects of nationalism in present Eurasia. The course will enable students to evaluate policies, problems and conflicts both from normative and non-normative (pragmatic) perspectives. The course consists of three parts: the first part presents theoretical introduction to nationalism, the second part covers the Soviet period and the third part focuses on the post-Soviet nationalism. Among the topics covered are the emergence of the USSR, policy of „positive discrimination‟, Stalin‟s „Great power Russian nationalism‟, ethnic reasons of the collapse of the USSR, ethnic mobilization in the late Soviet period, conflict in Chechnya, radical Russian nationalism and many others.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • The objective of the course is to provide a broad understanding of the importance of nationalism in Soviet and Russian political history.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Student gets to know the development of theory of nationalism and history of „nationalities policy‟ in the USSR
  • Student thinks critically about recent developments in nationalities policy in Russia
  • Student understands the reasons for the onset of ethnic conflicts on the post-Soviet space
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • What is nationalism? Theories of nationalism: Modernism, Constructivism and Instrumentalism
  • Language, national identity and assimilation
  • Soviet national policies in 1920-30-s. Nationalism & Russian Civil War. The creation of the USSR. Russian Empire vs. USSR compared. “Positive discrimination”. The Affirmative action Empire
  • Nationalities policies in late Soviet period. Khrushchev and Brezhnev: The “Korennizatsiya” policies. The Soviet nationalism. The Perestroika and disintegration of the USSR.
  • Ethnic conflicts in Russia. Minority movements in Russia. The conflict in Chechnya. Tatarstan. Islamism in Russia.
  • Post-Soviet and post-communist nationalism compared. Yugoslavia vs. Russia. The Baltic states. Moldova& Transnistria
  • Post-Soviet nationalism. The Caucasus: Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. The Karabakh conflict. The Georgian-Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhazian conflicts
  • Nationalism in Putin‟s Russia. Radical nationalism, migration and xenophobia in Russia
  • Memory, history and nationalism. Memorial wars. State vs Civil rights movement historical politics.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Presence and Participation
  • non-blocking case portfolio
  • non-blocking Presentation
  • non-blocking Essay
    The written essay is assigned by the end of the class; it must basically include a review of the academic literature on the chosen case. The criteria of assessment are: clarity of writing style, thorough documentation/reference style, creating logical structure of the essay
  • non-blocking Exam
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2021/2022 2nd module
    Gfinal =0,7 Gcumulative + 0,3 Gexam where Cumulative = 0,25 active participation and presence in the class + 0.25 Case Portfolio + 0.25 Presentation + 0.25 Written essay
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Giuliano, E. (2011). Constructing Grievance : Ethnic Nationalism in Russia’s Republics. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=673660
  • Smith, A. D. . (DE-588)124833543, (DE-576)178384135. (1998). Nationalism and modernism : a critical survey of recent theories of nations and nationalism / Anthony D. Smith. London [u.a.]: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.067369227
  • Suny, R. G., & Martin, T. (2001). A State of Nations : Empire and Nation-Making in the Age of Lenin and Stalin. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=264835

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Shcherbak, A., & Sych, K. (2017). Trends in Russian Nationalities Policy: A Structural Perspective. Problems of Post-Communism, 64(6), 311–328. https://doi.org/10.1080/10758216.2016.1225264
  • Troebst, S. (2003). “We Are Transnistrians!” Post-Soviet Identity Management in the Dniester Valley. Ab Imperio, (1), 437–466. https://doi.org/10.1353/imp.2003.0056