2023/2024
Russia in the Global World: International Relations and Foreign Policy of Russia
Category 'Best Course for Career Development'
Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'
Type:
Mago-Lego
Delivered by:
School of Politics and Governance
When:
1, 2 module
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors:
Alexander I. Nikitin
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Contact hours:
50
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course is devoted to presentation of the Russian foreign policy and international security concepts and strategies, visions of the current and future world order.The course covers the various forms of interference of Russia, other world powers, as well as the United Nations Organization and regional interstate organizations (OSCE, NATO, EU, CIS, CSTO) into international, intra-national, and domestic internationalized conflicts in the areal of the Russian interests in the period since formation of the Russian Federation till modern times.The course is subdivided onto 9 topics with the lecture and one or two seminars on each topic. One lecture may cover more than one thematical topic.The materials of the course include text descriptions, slides, videos and photos reachable via links, required and recommended readings, recommended electronic sources, multiple choice tests
Learning Objectives
- The main goal of this course is to present a systemic overview of the place and role of Russia in the international system, Russian vision of the existing and future world order, conflicts in the post-Soviet period, Russia’s policy towards conflicts on the post-Soviet space and in same decades conflicts and international relations in the Middle East, Europe, Asia.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Present to the students major principles and specificities of the modern Russian foreign policy on different directions;
- Analyze Russian approaches to theory and methodology of international relations, international security, conflict studies and conflict resolution;
- Introduce the Charter, mechanisms, organs and structures of the United Nations and of major international organizations, and Russia’s relations with them;
- Present to students basic notions and concepts of international relations and international security in Russian, Western and non-Western interpretations;
- Present historic background and chronology of major conflicts in the post-Soviet space with Russian involvement in recent decades;
- Differentiate between various legal grounds of involvement of great powers and great organizations into conflicts;
- Distinct legitimate involvements from illegitimate interventions (from the point of view of UN Charter and international law);
- Analyze major trends of Russia’s foreign policy and its involvement in conflicts;
- Compare roles of Russia, other world powers, as well as UN, OSCE, NATO, CIS, CSTO, SCO, BRICS in various international regions and situations;
- Inspect possibility for a joint and alternative crisis response by Russia and other states and organizations in situations of modern international crises.
Course Contents
- Topic 1. Russia among other World Powers in a Modern World Order
- Topic 2. United Nations Organization, War and Peace.
- Topic 3. Evolution of the International Conflict Resolution Principles and Practice
- Topic 4. Russia’s Policy Towards Conflicts in and among the New Independent States and International Interferences in Central and South Asia
- Topic 5. International Relations and the Russian Policy in the Caucasus
- Topic 6. The End of Post-Soviet Space and Ongoing Conflicts in the NIS, Potentials of the CSTO, SCO, BRICS
- Topic 7. Russia’s Military Operations of Last Decades, and Their Legal Grounds and Outcomes
- Topic 8. Russia’s Relations with the OSCE, NATO and European Union
- Topic 9. Russia as a Nuclear Power in a Nuclear World
Assessment Elements
- Class attendance and class discussions participation
- Preparing student’s presentation on selected topic
- Multiple choice Tests
- Final examination
Interim Assessment
- 2023/2024 2nd module0.1 * Class attendance and class discussions participation + 0.5 * Final examination + 0.2 * Multiple choice Tests + 0.2 * Preparing student’s presentation on selected topic
