Russian Politics

2024/2025

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

6

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

2 year, 1, 2 module

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is aimed at studying the main aspects of the political development of Russia in the post-Soviet period. A wide range of topics of contemporary Russian politics are considered, the main of which are: institutional choice and state building, regime evolution, issues of federalism and regional politics, the party system, the economic foundations of Russian politics, social movements in contemporary Russia. These topics are studied in comparison with other countries of Eurasia in order to understand the general and special in the political development of Russia.

Learning Objectives

• The main goal of the course is to analyze the logic of Russia's political development in a comparative perspective.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• demonstrates a good knowledge about contemporary political processes in Russia
• applies in practice case-study methods for studying Russia, as well as comparative analysis of Russia with other states
• applies theories and concepts to analyze political processes in Russia and other countries of Eurasia
• understands general and special in political process of Russia in comparison with other countries of the post-Soviet space

Course Contents

• Introduction
• Topic 1
• Topic 2
• Topic 3
• Topic 4
• Topic 5
• Topic 6
• Topic 7
• Topic 8
• Topic 9
• Topic 10

Assessment Elements

• Participation
• Quizzes
• mid-term test
  A mid-term test is a multiple choice test that covers the first part of the course. It contains 10 questions, 1 point for each correct answer
• final exam
  to pass exam each student has to submit an essay on the topic related to the course. The topic of an essay should be approved by instructor and submitted by student no later than two weeks before deadline. An essay should no less 3000 words, contain references, the literature list and conform standard requirements for academic texts - Introduction, Main part and Conclusion. Students are not recommended to use AI for copleting their essay; if a student uses AI software, it should explicitly indicated and justified. AI generated part of the essay should not exceed 25%. If these requirements are not met, the use of AI generated text would be considered as violation of academic integrity standards.

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 2nd module
  0.12 * Participation + 0.12 * Participation + 0.06 * Quizzes + 0.06 * Quizzes + 0.4 * final exam + 0.24 * mid-term test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Gelʹman, V. J. V. (DE-588)121498867, (DE-576)181761440, aut. (2015). Authoritarian Russia : analyzing post-Soviet regime changes / Vladimir Gel’man.
• Gill, G. J., & Young, J. (2012). Routledge Handbook of Russian Politics and Society. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=441639

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Michael McFaul. (2001). Russia’s Unfinished Revolution : Political Change From Gorbachev to Putin. Cornell University Press.
• White, S. (2011). Understanding Russian Politics. Cambridge eText.

Authors

• SCHERBAK ANDREY NIKOLAEVICH