Russia's Long 20th Century - The Soviet Experiment and Beyond

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. CONTENT. The evolution of the Soviet experiment, beginning with the late Russian Empire and the war and revolution that ended it; the Bolshevik Party's seizure of power; the resulting socialist revolution; Stalin and Stalinism; Soviet society and everyday life; culture and the arts; Soviet involvement in World War II and the Cold War; opposition, dissent, reform and collapse of the USSR; post-Soviet developments and rise of Putin; the legacy and continued relevance of the Soviet experiment today. Course content is selected to align with the course description and the current state of scholarship in the field. The presentation of course content fosters critical thinking in the context of scholarly consensus and debate, rather than instructors’ views, values or beliefs. Instructors may assign different readings and/or topics that fit within the course description and meet the learning objectives. BENEFITS. History teaches evaluation and synthesis of evidence, development of persuasive arguments in written and oral form, expansion of understandings of historical contexts that have contributed to human complexity past and present, including but not limited to the formation of group and individual identities, social and political dynamics, and debates about values and rights. Applying this knowledge produces more informed citizens, who are proficient in the abilities required by today’s workforce. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.