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This is a Level 3 course taught by Central and East European Studies. The course will provide students with a theoretically and empirically grounded and historically sensitive understanding of Russian identity formation at the local, national and global levels during the period of the Soviet Union, 1917-1991

One 2 hour class per week

This course may not be running this year. For further information please check the CEES Moodle page or contact the subject directly.

Grade D in Central and East European Studies or cognate social science Level 2.

5,000 word extended essay (100%)

The aim of this module is to explore the idea of Russia and Russian identity during the period of the Soviet Union. The course examines the construction of Russian 'identity' at different spatial levels: local, national and global, through the exploration of a range of issues, including Soviet/Russian relations and interactions with the West, relations between the Russian Soviet republic and other republics of the Soviet Union; the role of migration in the Soviet Union and the identity and experience of Russian 'diaspora' communities; the nature and existence of religion under Soviet rule; attitudes towards and experiences of non-Russian ethnic communities in the Russian Soviet Republic and wider Soviet Union. The module includes analysis of Russian identity construction during the period of the Tsarist 'empire', which provides an essential historical context. The module adopts an approach that combines utilisation of key theoretical and conceptual frameworks (nationalism, ethnicity, post-colonialism) whilst paying attention to their applicability to the very specific context of the Soviet space. The module aims to include insights from the bottom up, i.e. more grounded empirical perspectives of identity construction at the level of the Soviet Russian population.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the nature of Soviet Russian identity at the local, national and global levels;

■ assess the significance of the Tsarist past to the development of Soviet Russian identity;

■ distinguish the commonalities and differences in Soviet Russia's experience of processes of identity formation at the local, national and global level;

■ critically apply relevant theoretical frameworks and conceptual models to deepen understanding of the nature of Soviet Russian identity;

■ present knowledge acquired during the course in the form of coherent written and oral expression.

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