POLITICAL SCIENCE 360
RUSSIAN POLITICS
Professor: J. Frank Harrison
For the last half century the Russian State, in its larger form as
the Soviet Union, was a revolutionary alternative and military
threat to Western Europe and North America. Now, in its
post-communist phase, that State remains the dominant military and political
power between the USA in the West and China to the East. Both Europe and Asia must consider the
concerns and policies of the emerging political system centred on Moscow.
Further, the Russian State, economy, and society
are in a condition of disruption and development. The former 'socialist'
structure of politics and government was incapable of reform to meet the
challenges of the Modern era. Contemporary Russia is a system of
politics and economics responding, in a revolutionary way, to the recent past.
The dynamic changes achieved by communism, and its ultimate collapse, remain
the background of the search for alternative structures and institutions of
politics and society--alternatives which are by no means necessarily based upon
the liberal ideals of western Europe and North America.
The course is designed to maximise
student participation. There will be two classes each week. One will be a
lecture, the second a discussion. Discussion will be based upon information
which you will receive through your accounts on the e-mail system organised by
the university. You must familiarise yourself with the system immediately,
although it is assumed that most of you are "old hands" at the system
by now. The material that you receive will be the latest news coming directly
from Russia and, at times, other
parts of the former USSR (the CIS and
"near abroad.") Our discussions (and arguments) will, therefore,
reflect upon the "every-day" events of Russian politics and society.
Texts: To be provided in class
You are
expected to read your e-mail for new materials which will be provided on an on-going bases. Useful Web sites will also be given to
you in class.
Some areas at
which students may wish to concentrate their attention:
the presidency
the Duma
regional authorities
the military
the Prime Minister
the Constitutional court
economic reforms for the creation of a market economy
foreign investment
privatisation of industry
agriculture
crime
the Federal Council
the Security Council
policy towards the "near abroad"
disarmament
relations with the USA
relations with the European community
political parties
domestic nuclear policy
Great Russian nationalism
religion
Because each
student will contribute to the course in weekly discussions, participation will
be a factor in the final grade for the course.
The
discussions will be open-ended, with all students expected to participate in
general, and developing a "specialty" in the field.
Main themes
to be considered in the course are:
- Broad themes of Russian culture and
politics.
- The ideological background to the present: from communism to
capitalism, state socialism to liberalism.
- The economic background: the planned economy.
- The political background: the one-party state.
- The failure of the socialist experiment: economic stagnation.
- The failure of reforms: from Khrushchev to Gorbachev.
- The character of political disintegration: the nationalities in
conflict.
- The development of parties and the prospects for democracy.
- The current Russian constitution.
- The Commonwealth of Independent States--the search for federal
solutions.
- Current domestic policy issues.
- Foreign policy: from super-power to regional actor.
- The nature of Russian capitalism today.
Marking Scheme:
Each term students will be responsible
for:
- written assignment or presentation,
- a quiz and
- an exam
*The first term will be worth 40% of the final mark.
*Students must complete all six written
portions of the course.*
**Failure to do so will result in an automatic failing grade for the entire
course.**
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