PO579 Postcommunist Russia

Convenor: Professor Richard Sakwa

Description

photogprah We examine the main challenges facing post-communist Russia and in particular assess the development of democracy. We discuss the main institutions and political processes: the presidency, parliament, federalism, elections, party development and foreign policy, as well as discuss Yeltin’s and Putin’s leadership.  We end with a broader evaluation of issues like the relationship of markets to democracy, civil society and its discontents, nationalism, political culture and democracy and Russia's place in the world.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  1. Contextualise Russia’s post-communist transition in the broader pattern of post-Cold War comparative politics;
  2. Understand the problems facing the development of democracy in Russia;
  3. Have a detailed understanding of the main institutions and political processes;
  4. Identify the major political forces in contemporary Russia;
  5. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of post-communist Russian leadership;
  6. Be familiar with the works of the major writers about post-Russia.

Module Specification

Reading List

Indicative reading list:

Bacon, E. and Wyman M. Contemporary Russia, (Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2005).

Brown, A. (ed.), Contemporary Russian Politics: A Reader, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001). [SLC; also available online].

Fish, M. S., Democracy Derailed in Russia: The Failure of Open Politics,(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005).

Herspring, D. R. (ed.), Putin's Russia: Past Imperfect, Future Uncertain, Second edition, (Lanham, MD, Rowman & Littlefield, 2004).

McFaul, M., Nikolai P. & Ryabov A. Between Dictatorship and Democracy: Russian Post-Communist Political Reform (Washington , DC, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2004).

Remington, T. Politics in Russia, 4th edn (London: Pearson Longman, 2006).

Robinson, N. Russia: A State of Uncertainty (London and New York: Routledge, 2002).

Ross, C. (ed.) Russian Politics under Putin (Manchester: Manchester Universtiy Press, 2004).

Sakwa, R. Russian Politics and Society, 3rd edn (London: Routledge, 2002).

Sakwa, R. Putin: Russia's Choice (London: Routledge, 2004).

Waller, M., Russian Politics Today: The Return of a Tradition (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2005).

White, S., Pravda A. & Sakwa R. (eds), Developments in Russian Politics, 6th edn (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2005).

Factsheet

Credits 15 [7.5 ECTS]
Level Honours
Term Autumn
Availability 2009/2010
Pre-requisites None
Assessment 50% coursework (35% Essay 1 of 3,500 words and 15% Presentation) 50% two hour written examination
Study hours 150 hours including 22 hours lecture/seminar; 128 study hours