2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PIED2440 Politics in Russia

20 creditsClass Size: 90

Module manager: Michael Denison
Email: M.J.Denison@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

Who really controls Russia? How have super-rich Russian businessmen ('oligarchs') been able to amass such huge personal fortunes since the collapse of Communism? What are the causes and objectives of Chechen terrorism, and how have they changed over the past decade? How did President Vladimir Putin rise so suddenly to high office, and who are his backers? This module seeks to answer these and other questions about the politics of the Russian Federation. The module begins by looking at how the Soviet system functioned and the reasons for its eventual demise. It charts the rise of Russia as an independent state from 1991, and evaluates the presidencies of Boris Yeltsin (1991-99) and Vladimir Putin (2000-) in detail. In particular, the module considers the rise of organised crime and the Russian mafia, and the emergence of political parties, the oligarchs, regional elites, and the FSB (ex-KGB) as influential political actors under first Yeltsin, and then Putin. After completing the module, students will be familiar with key political themes, actors and institutions in Russia, and be able to critically evaluate contending theories of Russian politics.For further information see the School of Politics and International Studies website. If you cannot find the answer to your question then email m.j.denison@leeds.ac.uk

Objectives

By the conclusion of the module, students will be able to:

i) critically assess contending theories of Russian politics;
ii) demonstrate a broad knowledge of the main issues affecting Soviet and contemporary Russian politics;
iii) offer considered analysis and interpretation of key developments, themes, actors and institutions in contemporary Russian politics;
iv) utilise a range of research techniques, from electronic and printed sources, and present findings fluently and professionally, both verbally and in the form of accurate and well-sourced hand-outs.

Syllabus

The module is divided into four sections. In part one (Week One), students will be introduced to the principal themes of the course and the dominant contending theoretical approaches to understanding Russian politics. The second part of the module (Weeks Two to Five) is designed to provide students with a broad knowledge of the history of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, and with an understanding of the processes that produced the collapse of the Soviet system, and the emergence of the Russian Federation. It then considers the key political developments under the Yeltsin and Putin presidencies. Part three (Weeks Six to Ten) will explore in depth the principal actors, institutions, themes and processes in contemporary Russian politics, and will examine the interaction between these processes and issues. In part four (Week Eleven) of the module, the future of the Russian Federation will be considered in the context of prevailing theoretical approaches.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3,000 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

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

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
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: 30/03/2009

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