HIST 337 - Russia Since Communism

3 Credit(s)

This course examines the political, economic, social, and cultural development of post-Soviet Russia, with particular attention to the impact of the communist legacy after 1991. This examination takes place within the framework of two competing analytical perspectives: 1) Westernism, according to which Russia is in the process of assimilating Western values and incorporating Western institutions, and 2) Traditionalism, according to which Russia is fundamentally different from the West due to its authoritarian, communal, and Orthodox heritage, and thus highly unlikely to adopt Western ways. Primary sources—mainly observer and participant accounts—provide the basic reading for this course.