Urban governance and politics in the post-Soviet space

2024/2025

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

3

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

1 year, 1 module

Instructor

Шевцова Ирина Константиновна

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course examines post-Soviet urban politics and the role of large cities in political governance in post-Soviet countries. The course is focused on application of political science and sociology theories to the analysis of political processes in post-Soviet cities. The following topics are included in the course: (1) Modernization, neoliberalism, and modern urban development, (2) Cities and multilevel governance in post-Soviet states, (3) Actors of urban politics, urban coalitions, and regimes, (4) Types of cities and their political and governmental characteristics, (5) Urban space transformation and urban policy tools in context of political regime, (6) Effects of inequality and differences in urban development, “just city” in the post-Soviet space.

Learning Objectives

• To develop the skills of analyzing political processes on a local level in post-Soviet states using the tools of political science and sociology
• To learn the factors influencing the dynamics of urban development in post-Soviet cities
• To introduce tendencies of urban development and key actors of urban politics in post-Soviet cities

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Is able to analyze local politics and urban development using theories and methods of political science and sociology
• Knows core political, social, and economic actors and their coalitions included in urban politics in post-Soviet cities
• Knows core tendencies of urban development in the post-Soviet space
• Is able to explain core tendencies of urban development in the post-Soviet space
• Is capable of analyzing a role of large cities in multi-level governance in post-Soviet countries

Course Contents

• Topic 1. Cities and modernization: developing of modern cities in post-Soviet space
• Topic 2. Cities and markets: neoliberal approach and market-led development in post-Soviet cities (the instances of Moscow and Astana)
• Topic 3. Urban political economy: urban regimes and coalitions in post-Soviet cities
• Topic 4. Redistribution politics and urbanism in post-Soviet cities
• Topic 5. Multilevel governance and post-Soviet cities
• Topic 6. Capitals vs periphery: political and governmental characteristics
• Topic 7. Urban inequality and the concept of “just city”
• Topic 8. Effects of spatial urban development
• Topic 9. The multiple transitions and urban conflict in post-Soviet cities (part 1)
• Topic 10. The multiple transitions and urban conflict in post-Soviet cities (part 2)

Assessment Elements

• In-class participation
  In-class participation includes participation in every seminar discussion and answering the questions on all reading assignments. The grade is calculated as an average of all grades received on seminars
• Final essay
  A final essay is focused on one of the topics included in the course syllabus.

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 1st module
  0.6 * Final essay + 0.4 * In-class participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Jacobs, J. (1992). The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Vintage. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1280725
• Scott, J. C. (2020). Seeing Like a State : How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed. Yale University Press.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Ledyaev, V., & Chirikova, A. (2019). Governors and local elites in Russia: patterns of interaction. European Politics & Society, 20(3), 315–332. https://doi.org/10.1080/23745118.2018.1534041

Authors

• SHEVTSOVA IRINA KONSTANTINOVNA