Modern Russia  HIST 360, Winter/Spring 2008 'There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in a new order of things' (Machiavelli)

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Dr. Caitlin Corning	Office: Center Street House #5
Syllabus: http://academic.georgefox.edu/~ccorning/russia/	Office Hours: 9:30-10:30 (MWF); 1:15-2:30 (T,TH)
Phone: 554-2673(with voice-mail)	e-mail: ccorning@georgefox.edu

Course Description

With the dramatic events in the former Soviet Union in the past decade, comprehending the history of this area is crucial to understanding the very difficult situation Russia and the CIS face if they are to become economically and politically stable. Due to the fact that since 1945, if not from the Russian Revolution, the US has been distrustful and at times fearful of the 'Red Menace' spearheaded by our enemy in the cold war, general knowledge of Russia has often been slanted and oversimplified. One of the aspects of this class will be the attempt to look at the former Soviet Union in a more balanced light highlighting both the successes and the failures of this experiment. This course is an introductory survey of Russia and the USSR from Peter the Great to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of the CIS, focusing on the 20th century developments. Political history will be emphasized in order to provide a framework to understand more specific issues, but economic, social and cultural history will not be ignored.

Course Objectives

1. To provide the student with a basic understanding of the history and development of Modern Russia

2. To explore the the complex intersection of myth and reality in the primary source material available

3. To encourage students to improve their academic skills in the areas of critical analysis, writing, oral communication and organization.

Required Texts

Dziewanowski, Russia in the Twentieth Century, 6th edn.
Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto (any edition)
Sourcebook
Hoshchildes, The Unquiet Ghost

 
Grading

Late Policy (for unexcused absences)

All assignments will be discounted 5% per day unless absence is excused.