The Putin Generation

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Vladimir Putin was elected to the Russian presidency in March, 2000. He potentially could remain in office until 2036, when he will be in his 80's, although Russia's current war against Ukraine is raising questions about his control of Russia. During the past quarter century, a new generation of Russians has grown up knowing no leader other than Putin. This course seeks to understand how these young Russians, sometimes called the "Putin Generation," see their lives, their country's leadership, and Russia's - as well as their own - role in the world. This generation is being examined by Russian social scientists and our course materials are based on those studies, as well as on the voices of young Russians expressed in social media, music and other platforms. The course will reflect events in Russia and in the world as they happen and will challenge students to be creative and to carry out their own research. It will be conducted as a seminar, with two required papers on any aspect of what SFS students have learned in class.