Postgraduate course 2020/2021

The Russian tradition of political studies

Type: Elective course

Area of studies: Political Science and Area Studies

Delivered by: School of Politics and Governance

When: 1 year, 1 semester

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Mikhail Ilyin

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 36

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course provides an outline of both traditions and the current state of political studies in Russia. It highlights selected patterns of political comprehension deeply rooted both in Russian language and in outstanding political discourses. Upon this background the course overviews history of Russian academic studies of politics. It further focuses on the recent three decades of attempts to develop political science standards in Russian universities.

Learning Objectives

• The course aims to provide students with the knowledge of best practices in Russian political science, their relevance and relative standing in the international political science as well as major prospects for the further advancement of political research in Russia.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• designing a research project (PhD dissertation research) both rooted in the traditions of Russian scholarship and standards of international political science
• choosing appropriate precedents to rest students' own research
• recognizing dangerous fallacies detrimental to their own research that are rooted in customary practices of research either inherited from Russian tradition or imported from outside
• identifying limitation and opportunities rooted in Russian language and political discourse, in patterns of political thought and traditional scholarly practices

Course Contents

• Traditions of Russian political studies
  Customary patterns of interpreting and understanding politics in Russia. Their change and perseverance over time. Mainsprings of Russian political thinking. Beginning of academic studies of politics in Russia. Main stages of its development.
• Key political concepts in the Russian language
  Key political ideas and concepts in Russian language and history: power and authority, freedom and emancipation, state and society, internal and external, law and justice, peace and violence, political struggle and political agreement.

Assessment Elements

• Presentation
• Final paper
• Lecture and seminar activity

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (1 semester)
  0.5 * Final paper + 0.2 * Lecture and seminar activity + 0.3 * Presentation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Kulik, A. N. (1997). Trends in the development of political science in Russia. Russian Social Science Review, 38(6), 4. https://doi.org/10.2753/RSS1061-142838064

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• I. Okunev. (2016). Rating Faculties of Political Science in Russia. Sravnitelʹnaâ Politika, (2(23)), 132. https://doi.org/10.18611/2221-3279-2016-7-2(23)-132-133
• История российской политической науки : Научное изд., , 2015
• История российской политической науки, Аксаков, К. С., 2015
• Очерки истории русской общественно - политической мысли XIX - первой трети XX столетия, Пивоваров, Ю., 1997
• Российская политическая наука. Т.1: XIX - начало XX в., , 2008
• Русская политика в ее историческом и культурном отношениях, Пивоваров, Ю. С., 2006
• Русское настоящее и советское прошлое, Пивоваров, Ю. С., 2015