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2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SLAV2401 Russian Society from Perestroika to the Crimean Annexation (1985-2015)

15 creditsClass Size: 7

Module manager: Ilya Yablokov
Email: i.yablokov@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is mutually exclusive with

SLAV2402Russian Society from Perestroika to the Crimean Annexation (
SLAV3402Russian Society from Perestroika to the Crimean Annexation (

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The course will study the political, socioeconomic and cultural development of Russian society after Mikhail Gorbachev's perestroika. The course will look at the causes of the Soviet collapse, the emergence of new political leaders and will pay particular attention to the rise of Putin as Russia's political leader. During the module we shall discuss the introduction of liberal economic reforms, consider the economic model elaborated over the post-Soviet period and will look at the emergence of oligarchs. In addition, the course will discuss Russia's relationship with the West and former Soviet countries with a view of explaining the crisis in Ukraine and the reasons behind Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Objectives

The module aims to introduce students to:
• Russian politics
• Russian history
• Russian modern culture
• Russian media

Learning outcomes
1. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of the major events in the post-Soviet period of Russian history;
2. Students will demonstrate the ability to critically analyse primary sources with a view to understanding the causes of events in the post-Soviet Russia;
3. Students will develop critical understanding of the process taking place in the post-Soviet space and how these processes impact on European politics and security.

Skills outcomes
On completion of this module students should:
• show basic research skills
• demonstrate an ability to carry out independent research
• be able to engage in critical debate around issues on Russian politics, culture and society


Syllabus

The module will cover a diverse range of topics from a variety of aspects of post-Soviet Russian life. It will focus on the societal, political and cultural evolutions of post-Soviet Russian society, with a view of showing alternative paths which Russian society could have taken in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse. The module will cover the following topics:

Gorbachev’s perestroika (1985-1989) and the Collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991
Economic reforms in post-Soviet Russia. Privatization, financial crisis, the emergence of oligarchs. Russia as a petrostate.
Russia's political system: political parties, courts and presidential power
Vladimir Putin as a phenomenon
Musicians and Politics in post-Soviet Russia
(Un)Civil society: dissidents, intelligentsia and foreign agents
Post-Soviet media: The journalists of the ‘Broken’ generation
Nation-building and Russian nationalism after the Soviet Collapse

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture81.008.00
Seminar71.007.00
Private study hours135.00
Total Contact hours15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

135 hours of independent study to supplement in-class tuition. Students are expected to carry out weekly homework assignments and revise material covered in class on a regular basis.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

• Each week students will receive tasks to prepare at home. The results of their preparation will be assessed at fortnightly seminars.
• Tutor will be available during office hours to provide further guidance and feedback on successful completion of the module.
• Class participation will be used to monitor progress

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay2000 word essay50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) (S1)2 hr 00 mins50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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