Course Catalogue

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This is an honours course taught by Central and East European Studies (CEES).

The course examines the re-negotiation of Russian identity at the global, national, regional, and local levels following the Soviet Union's collapse. It explores a range of contemporary internal and external issues, including:: Russia's relations with the West and the countries of the former Soviet Union; internal and external migration; identity of Russian diaspora communities; the role of religion and Islam; the existence and nature of ethnic conflict.

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.

Mandatory entry requirements
Entry to CEES Honours normally requires a grade point average of 12 (Grade C) over CEES 2A and CEES 2B as a first attempt.

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■ 3,500 word essay (65%)

■ Oral Assessment and Presentation (35%), comprising: 1) Group Coursework Presentation (10%); 2) Individually written 1000 word paper associated with presentation (15%); 3) Participation (10%). 

Adjustments and/or alternative modes of assessment will be available for students with disabilities that hinder attendance and/or public speaking.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The course aims to:

■ introduce students to the idea of Russia almost two decades on from 1991: as a 'state' and 'nation' which has gone through, and is still engaged in, the process of re-negotiating its identity at the global, national, regional, and local levels.

■ focus specific attention on key aspects of Russian identity, including Russia's relations with the West and the countries of the former Soviet Union; internal and external migration; the role and identity of Russian diaspora communities, the role of religion and Islam; the existence and nature of ethnic conflict

■ introduce students to key theoretical and conceptual frameworks (nationalism, ethnicity, globalisation, post-colonialism) with analysis of more grounded empirical perspectives.

■ offer students the opportunity to develop their transferable skills in communication and analysis which will be relevant to further education and future employment.

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

■ demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the contemporary nature of the Russian state and nation at the global, national, regional and local levels;

■ assess the significance of the past to the development of contemporary Russian identity at an individual, regional, national and global level;

■ distinguish the commonalities and differences in Russia's experience of issues of contemporary global significance;

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

■ explain the importance of place, and temporal and spatial positioning, for understanding contemporary Russia and Russian identity;

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

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