Core Seminar "Key Issues and Methods in Post-Soviet Area Studies"

Master 2024/2025

Type: Compulsory course (Comparative Politics of Eurasia)

Area of studies: Political Science

Delivered by: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 2 year, 1 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Andrey Starodubtsev

Master’s programme: Comparative Politics of Eurasia

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Full Syllabus

Abstract

This core seminar aims to familiarize students of the educational trajectory “Eurasian (post-Soviet) area studies” with relevant approaches to and tools for academic and policy-oriented research in post-Soviet area studies. This will enable greater coherence of the educational process, set grounds for knowledge and understanding of the state of the art in the field, and help students to improve their professional communication skills. The seminar will focus on major scholarly discussions on key issues in post-Soviet area studies. It will also scrutinize various methodological paradigms and methods used for research on specific topics. This will be done both through regular seminar discussions based on extensive reading of seminal and innovative works in the field and through providing space for guest lectures by invited scholars who will present their work and provide feedback on students’ research ideas.

Learning Objectives

This core seminar aims to familiarize students of the educational trajectory “Eurasian (post-Soviet) area studies” with relevant approaches to and tools for academic and policy-oriented research in post-Soviet area studies.

Expected Learning Outcomes

knows and applies the case study and comparative case study methodology
knows contemporary state of the art in the post-soviet studies
does reviews of academic articles and books

Course Contents

Methodology of Case Studies and Comparative Case Studies
Theoretical paradigms of political science: focus on post-soviet studies
Key issues in the post-soviet studies

Assessment Elements

In-class participation
Article Review
Test
Book review
Research essay
Reflection paper
Students are to write a paper in which they reflect on how the content of the course was useful (or not) in the development of their research projects and/or professional development in general.

Interim Assessment

2023/2024 2nd module
0.35 * Article Review + 0.35 * Article Review + 0.3 * In-class participation + 0.3 * In-class participation + 0.35 * Test + 0.35 * Test
2023/2024 4th module
0.5 * Book review + 0.5 * Book review + 0.5 * In-class participation + 0.5 * In-class participation
2024/2025 1st module
0.3 * In-class participation + 0.3 * In-class participation + 0.35 * Reflection paper + 0.35 * Reflection paper + 0.35 * Research essay + 0.35 * Research essay

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Hale, H. E. . (DE-588)136496350, (DE-576)301049882. (2015). Patronal politics : Eurasian regime dynamics in comparative perspective / Henry E. Hale. New York, NY: Cambridge Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.419984909
Levitsky, S., & Way, L. (2010). Competitive Authoritarianism : Hybrid Regimes After the Cold War. Cambridge University Press.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Hale, H. E. (2006). Why Not Parties in Russia? : Democracy, Federalism, and the State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=146164

Authors

STARODUBTSEV Andrei VLADIMIROVICH

Course Syllabus