Politics and Security in Russia and Eurasia

Graduate

This course examines the politics of and security issues facing the Russian Federation, the five Central Asian Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and the Caucasian Republics of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. For the purposes of this course, the role and influence of Turkey, Iran, China and the United States on the politics and security of these Eurasian states will also be considered. The approach taken in this course is inter-disciplinary, drawing heavily from the fields of political science, history, and economics. The students will be introduced to political, economic and social issues affecting the region and taught how to research these issues through the lens of historical analysis and political economy. POLS 8430. Collective Action and Contentious Politics This course explores the conditions and processes shaping protests, riots, revolutions, and other forms of contentious politics. The course examines major theories about revolutions and social movements and considers competing explanations for the emergence of collective action. Particular attention is paid to the conditions under which people do or do not rebel and various aspects of the strategic interaction between social movements and states, and the determinants of movement outcomes. The students will read theoretical works and review several cases of revolutions and social movements in both democratic and nondemocratic state settings, thinking through parallels and differences among them.