[HOME] [EVALUATION] [SCHEDULE] [RESOURCES]

Course Schedule:

Each week contains four items: lecture title, readings, in-class discussion, and discussion section. Under the topic of each week’s lecture you find a ‘reading’ section that covers the same topic. You will get more out of the lectures if you have done this reading assignment before coming to the lecture. “In-class disc” refers to a document or other reading that will be the focus of discussion during the weekly lecture period each Thursday evening. Sometimes we will tackle these readings as a group, and at other times we will divide into smaller groups to address them. Topics for discussion sections will have been covered in the previous week’s lecture. The readings and other assignments listed under ‘discussion’ should be completed in advance of your discussion section and it is this material on which you will be quizzed each week in your section.

Skip to: [Unit 1] [Unit 2] [Unit 3] [Unit 4]

Week	Topic/Readings
Unit One:	Late Stalinism, 1945-53
January 24	Introduction: Russia and the USSR to 1945 Reading: Suny 309-36; Bardach xiii-85 In-class disc: No additional assignment Discussion: No discussion sections this week
January 31	Postwar Stalinism Readings: Suny 337-84; Bardach 86-169 In-class disc: Structures, 315-25 Discussion: Structures 264-273; www.soviethistory.org, select year 1943, then select “900 days” from dropdown box in center of page, then examine all files under audio, music, and photos (links in right frame).
Unit Two	Destalinization, 1953-64
February 7	Roots and Development of Destalinization Reading: Suny 387-420; Bardach 170-end* In-class disc: Structures 340-50 Discussion: Bardach MAP ASSIGNMENT DUE IN DISCUSSION SECTIONS; see example (Seo-Young Lee, 2006) (*note that you need to have the Bardach reading finished by the time discussion section meets)
February 14	The Legacy of WW2; In-Class Film: The Cranes Are Flying (dir. Kalatozov, 1957; 97 min), Main Media 12563DVD Reading: Medvedev 1-80 In-class disc: film Discussion: Structures 350-56
February 21	Khrushchev in Power Reading: Medvedev 81-end In-class disc: Alexander Solzhenitsyn, “What I learned in the gulag” linked through the Internet Modern History Sourcebook Discussion: Structures 356-58; www.soviethistory.org, 1961, “Novocherkassk Massacre”, Text: “Piotr Siuda: Novocherkassk tragedy”
Unit 3	“Stagnation” (1964-85)
February 28	Brezhnev-Era Politics Reading: Suny 421-29; Makine 1-89 In-class disc: www.soviethistory.org, 1973, “Soviet consumerism”, all texts, contexts, videos Discussion: Medvedev
March 6	MIDTERM; to prepare, see study guide Discussion: Review for midterm. Come prepared with questions
March 13	Soviet Society under Brezhnev Reading: Suny 43-36; 442-45; Makine 90-165 In-class disc: www.soviethistory.org, 1980, “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears”, Texts: "Equal Rights, Unequal Burdens." Contexts: "Are Differences between Men and Women Being Blurred." Discussion: Structures 388-93
March 20	NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK
March 27	NO LECTURE; INDEPENDENT WORK ON RESEARCH PAPERS Reading: Makine 166-end Discussion: Structures 379-85; 393-97 PAPER TOPICS DUE IN DISCUSSION SECTION Midterms returned
April 3	The Soviet-Afghan War Reading: Suny 445-51; Raleigh 1-23 and last name A-M: ch.2; last name N-Z: ch.1* In-class disc: “Homecoming” (1987; 17 min; Main Media VHS 3065). View in class, with discussion to follow *all students will read the Raleigh introduction. Students with a last name that begins with the letters A-M will be responsible for the even numbered chapters. Those with a last name that begins with the letters N-Z will read the odd numbered chapters. Obviously, you can read more if you like. Discussion: Makine
Unit 4	Reform, Disintegration and Beyond (1985-present)
April 10	Glasnost and Perestroika Reading: Suny451-59; Raleigh, A-M: ch 4, N-Z: ch. 3 In-class disc: “Chernobyl: Chronicle of Difficult Weeks,” (1989, 71 min) Main Media 3061 VHS [excerpt only]; www.soviethistory.org, 1986, Chernobyl, Text: “First address on Chernobyl” Discussion: Structures 423-33 [FYI: April 7, last day to drop]
April 17	Late Soviet Nationalities Issues and Social Problems Reading: Suny 462-65; Raleigh A-M: ch 6, N-Z: ch.5 In-class disc: www.soviethistory.org, 1986, Nationalism under Gorbachev, Text: “Gorbachev on Relations between Nationalities”; Contexts: “To an Alien Script”; Videos: “Days of the Crescent Moon,” “Azeri Mobs Attack Armenians” Discussion: Structures 438-45
April 24	Popular Culture under Glasnost: Film: Little Vera (dir. Pichul, 1988; 110min), Main Media 14142 DVD Reading: Raleigh A-M: ch 8, N-Z: ch. 7 In-class disc: film; www.soviethistory.org, 1986, Female Sexuality, Text: “Housing and Babies” Discussion: NO DISCUSSION SECTIONS THIS WEEK; INDIVIDUAL WORK ON RESEARCH PAPERS RESEARCH PAPERS DUE ON FRIDAY APRIL 25, NOON: Turn paper in to dept secretary in SH280. There will be a box on her desk. Keep in mind that the department is locked from 12-1p.m. and your paper will be marked late if you slip it under the door after noon or turn it in after the office opens again at 1 p.m.
May 1	Collapse of the USSR Readings: Suny 469-77 In-class discussion: “Putin Q & A: Full Transcript,” Time Magazine Person of the Year 2007 (Dec 31, 2007). (don’t confuse this with the Time article on Putin as Person of the Year). This is a long transcript. Do the best you can. Also recommended: video of Time’s interview with Putin Discussion: Raleigh
May 8	Post-Soviet Politics and Summation Reading: Suny 486-93; 496-506 In-class disc: if there’s time, we’ll continue the discussion section discussion about Structures 533-73 Discussion: Structures 533-73; Review; come prepared with questions
May 13	Final Exam, 7 p.m.; study guide available here Research papers returned

[HOME] [EVALUATION] [SCHEDULE] [RESOURCES]