Protest and Politics in Russia

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

What kind of political participation is possible under a strong state? With brief interludes of openness, the Soviet and post-Soviet leaderships have sought to limit and control popular feedback. Electoral mechanisms in Russia in particular have been shaped and manipulated to manage participation. Therefore, this course explores non-ordinary politics—from petitions to demonstrations--from the post-Stalin years to the present with an emphasis on various forms by which citizens have attempted to influence shifting political regimes. Topics include dissent, social movements, media and social media channels of protest, and state responses. While the course focuses on Russia, we will be drawing on comparative cases from other post-Soviet countries. Students will conduct independent research on protest manifestations in Russia or neighboring states.