Russia and Eurasia: Empires, Societies, Cultures II (formerly Introduction to Russian Civilization)

Undergraduate / Graduate

The second quarter focuses on nearly two centuries of upheaval, from the radical movements of the late 19th century to the birth, life, and death of the Soviet Union and the emergence of post-Soviet states. Our topics include Russian imperialism, colonial conquests, and the reconstitution of the Russian empire as the Soviet Union; systems of social and political legitimization; political violence, the evolution of the repressive machinery, and the enduring problem of the rule of law; religious, national, and sexual minorities, practices of everyday life, social order and disorder; resistance, dissent, and liberation movements; creativity, experimentation, and self-expression under censorship.