Introduction

Do you want to learn about the role of Russia in world politics? Do you want to understand the historical evolution of its contemporary domestic and international politics? Do you want to apply theories on international relations, international security, and comparative politics on the study of Russia in the post-communist world and globally? This module will be for you if you want to find the answers to these and other questions. We study Russia during the First and Second World wars, zoom closely into the Soviet era and the three decades after the collapse of communism, marked by political liberalisation and increasing drive towards authoritarianism. The module further analyses Russia’s relationships with the EU, US, NATO, and China among other BRIC countries, as well as its nuclear and energy politics, military or soft interventionism in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Middle East. We also analyse the international politics of migration, citizenship and transnational diaspora politics associated with the notion of the “Russian world.” The module concludes with a discussion on the recent war in Ukraine, and its implications for the international political order.

Module aims

• Study the role of Russia in world politics from historical and contemporary perspectives; thereby help understanding some of the roots of contemporary policies, as well as long-term political continuity and change.
• Assist students to integrate knowledge on international relations, international security, and comparative politics with the study of Russia and its place among post-communist countries and in the global political order.
• Expose students to a variety of topics: the Russian revolution, Russia and the two World Wars, the Soviet Union during the Cold War, political transition to democratisation and backsliding to authoritarianism, nuclear and energy politics, kin-state and military interventionism, international relations with great powers, de facto states, international organisations, and BRIC countries.
• Develop skills such as the research and interpretation of political science and international relations literature related to Russia in world politics; analysis and systematic comparison of empirical material; preparation and presentation of results in a collaborative manner; and deepening of writing skills through individual assignments.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Learn and critically assess a variety of approaches and debates about Russia’s domestic and international politics.
• Acquire understanding of the complexity of historical legacies shaping current policies, as well as the power of choice to change these in policy-making.
• Become aware of contextual specifics of Russia as they relate to state identity, political culture, authority, leadership, institutions, opposition, post-communism, transnationalism, interventionism, regional power dynamics, and a changing global order.
• Develop sophistication in the articulation of ideas through writing.