CORE C187 - Russia at the Crossroads

Examines Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia—historically parts of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union—from Peter the Great’s rule through the current war in Ukraine. The course follows the legacy of Tsarism, revolution, social engineering, war, and societal transformations. We look at music, art, and literature as arenas for political pressure from the state, and conformity or rebellion on the part of artists and audiences. Examining the region’s everyday life, identity, and geopolitics, we trace Russia’s self-image and constituent national identities through massive social experiments and upheavals. We consider Russia’s place in the world; its collective struggles, successes, and failures; and how these are understood and contested regionally and globally. This course provides a foundation for understanding what Russia is up to now and where the roots of those actions lie.

Credits: 1.00
Corequisite: None
Prerequisites: None
Major/Minor Restrictions: None
Class Restriction: No Junior, Senior
Area of Inquiry: None
Liberal Arts Practices: None
Core Component: Communities

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