Course Catalogue

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In 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union a newly independent Russia emerged. The aim of the course is to explore the idea of Russia as a 'state', 'nation' and 'people' that is in the process of re-negotiating its contemporary identity at the global, national, regional, local and individual levels, but firmly locating this exploration within the context of Russia's past.

Classes will be in the form of weekly 2-hour seminars in Semester 2 over ten weeks.

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■ 3500-4000 word essay (75%)

■ Coursework Presentation including 800-1000 word associated written paper (25%)

In 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union a newly independent Russia emerged. It was a Russia heavily influenced by its past but situated within a contemporary context of growing global inter-dependency and exchange, regional de-colonisation and nation building, and internal economic, social political and cultural upheaval and crisis. The aim of the course is to explore the idea of Russia as a 'state', 'nation' and 'people' that is in the process of re-negotiating its contemporary identity at the global, national, regional, local and individual levels, but firmly locating this exploration within the context of Russia's past.

The course examines internal and external themes and associated processes that are of particular relevance in the contemporary period; it explores their construction and experience at different spatial levels; and assesses the way in which they impact upon, and are in turn influenced by, the development, constitution and positioning of the Russian state, nation and its people. The course adopts an approach that draws upon sociological and geographical literatures and combines utilisation of key theoretical conceptual frameworks (for example debates around globalisation/localisation, nationalism, ethnicity, post-colonialism) with analysis of more grounded empirical perspectives to explore the range of focal issues - issues that are of both central significance to present-day Russia and to our own societies, economies, polities and cultures.

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

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

■ critically assess the significance of the past when comprehending the development of contemporary Russian national identity at the macro/state and micro/societal levels;

■ to identify the commonalities and differences with the West in Russia's experience of issues of contemporary global and local significance;

■ critique and evaluate the importance of place, and of temporal and spatial positioning, for understanding the operation and experience of contemporary Russian and wider global societies;

■ engage and apply key theoretical frameworks, conceptual models, empirical studies and primary data sources in a critically informed way to deepen understanding of Russian contemporary development.

  Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.