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Course Syllabus

Master 2024/2025

Transformations of Post-Soviet Space: Politics, Societies, Economies

Type: Elective course (Politics. Economics. Philosophy)
Area of studies: Political Science
Delivered by: School of Politics and Governance
Where: Faculty of Social Sciences
When: 2 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors: Yevgeny Ivanov
Master’s programme: Политика. Экономика. Философия
Language: English
ECTS credits: 6
Contact hours: 52

Course Syllabus

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The post-Soviet/Eurasian space is a great natural experiment for social sciences. Studying its transformation makes it possible to explore a wide range of topical issues: democratic transitions and authoritarian backlashes, state-building and nation-building, the transformation of single political institutions and political regimes in general. The fundamental question of the course is what social sciences can learn from post-Soviet states transformation? This course is an introduction into the big topic of post-Soviet/Eurasian studies. The central scope of the course is newly-emerged polites and its transformation from different angles. Social aspect uncovers the idea of ‘homo soveticus’ as a unique phenomenon. It helps to contemplate how social engineering of a new type of human beings was implemented and affected a wide range of social attitudes. Economic aspect deals with approaches to the transitional economy. These topic embraces not only members of the former USSR but covers all postcommunist regimes that followed different economic tracks switching from a planned economy to free market. And the last but not least aspect touches political processes. It unearths the causes of transformation the former USSR republics into a variety of political regimes from full democracies (Baltic states) to hybrids and tough autocracies (Niyazov's Turkmenistan and Karimov’s Uzbekistan). This provides a good basis for profound comparative studies. The course gives firm grounds to elaborate on the topic of post-Soviet/Eurasian studies and to amplify perspectives.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • The first objective of the course is to make students familiar with the major concepts, theories, and debates in post-Soviet/Eurasian studies from the angle of fundamental social, economic and political approaches/
  • The second objective of the course is to to develop and/or foster the ability to critically review published research outcomes, which are based on contemporary research and global best practices in post-Soviet/Eurasian studies.
  • The third goal of the course is to cultivate students' ability to prepare reports in the proper academic form on topics related to ongoing research activities.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • After completing this part of the course students will know about the large-scale cross-national projects and lesser integrational initiative which touches upon post-Soviet countries.
  • As transformation processes touched upon quite all the spheres of the former USSR countries, it's important to trace down how religious institutions evolved for the period? It is expected that the attendants of the course will may explain the crucial milestone in the process.
  • Students should know salient cases of separatist movements in the post-Soviet countries such as Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh, Transnistria/Pridnestrovie and Gagauzia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Donetsk and Luhansk, Chechnya/ Ichkeria and some minor cases. Besides, students could compare the cases on a global scale trying to work out possible approaches to solution of the conflicts.
  • The attendants should know the recent political history of the post-Soviet nations and answer the question of why it's so different? It there a way out of dependence path?
  • The objective of this class is to point out prominent cases of successful and poor expertise on post-Soviet macroregion. As a result, students should acquire a basic understanding of the region and processes that take place there.
  • The planned result is to learn how post-Soviet economies developed? Why some of them managed to succeed whilst others stagnate or failed? It is anticipated that the students could explain the difference between the countries' trajectories and make their own conclusions on it.
  • The students should have a clear vision of post-Soviet transformations in general. It concerns trilemma: what's first - state-building, democratization and liberalization of the economy. The students should make a difference between state-building and nation-building. Also, it's important to match countries' prerequisites and possible trajectories of transformation.
  • The topic unearths the relevant field of post-Soviet identities. The purpose is to demonstrate how people's minds have been changed after the USSR collapsed. The students should find out if the homo sovieticus still applicable as an analytical frame or not.
  • To know how to analyze complex proccesses and figure out feasible forecasts on its basis.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Theme 1. Introduction. Crisis of expertise. Why the post-Soviet studies are urgent again?
  • Theme 2. the USSR collapse and post-Soviet states emergence: state-building and nation-building
  • Theme 3. Secession movements.
  • Theme 4. Political transformations
  • Theme 5. Economies in transition.
  • Theme 6. Sociology of post-Soviet states: understanding the ‘homo soveticus’.
  • Theme 7. Church and power in post-Soviet countries.
  • Theme 8. Post-Soviet/ Eurasian integration project.
  • Theme 9. Prospects of post-Soviet environment
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking In-class presentation
    It is to be done only individually; It’s about 15-minutes long + 15 minutes for discussion; As for timing - it is more than enough so, please, mind it; Answering questions after the presentation is also an important part of it; illustrations, schemes and charts are welcomed; you report should not be identical to information on slides; please, try to give more details while speaking; the slides are for key points, major ideas, and illustrations.
  • non-blocking Tests (home reading)
    Students get a paper or a chapter to read. Then a test is held. The test includes questions based on the read materials. During the course several tests are planned.
  • non-blocking Analytical note
  • non-blocking Essay
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2024/2025 2nd module
    0.25 * Analytical note + 0.4 * Essay + 0.2 * In-class presentation + 0.15 * Tests (home reading)
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • After homo sovieticus: Democratic governance gaps and societal vulnerabilities in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1177/1781685818808715
  • Aliyev, H., & Souleimanov, E. A. (2019). Why Do De Facto States Fail?: Lessons from the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Problems of Post-Communism, 66(3), 161–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/10758216.2017.1383166
  • Developments in Soviet and post-Soviet politics, , 1992
  • Donnacha Ó Beacháin. (2019). Cheque-Mates? Abkhazia’s Quest for International Recognition. Studies of Transition States and Societies, (1), 55. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.1dcf46bef4534d80be8cc33269c76135
  • Eurasian Integration: Challenges of Transcontinental Regionalism, Vinokurov, E., 2012
  • Eurasian regionalism : the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Aris, S., 2011
  • Eurasian regionalisms and Russian foreign policy, Molchanov, M. A., 2015
  • Explaining post-Soviet patchworks. Vol.3: The political economy of regions, regimes and republics, , 2001
  • Handbook of Eurasian Political Economy : руководство / edited by Alexander Bulatov and Egor Pak. — Москва : Аспект Пресс, 2022. — 316 с. — ISBN 978-5-7567-1254-4. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/324356 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.
  • Kania, E. (2018). Homo sovieticus – ‘a single-dimensional client of communism’ or a ‘multifaceted phenomenon’? ; Homo sovieticus – „jednowymiarowy klient komunizmu”, czy „fenomen o wielu twarzach”? Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.D582E6F7
  • Kasperowicz, A. (2012). Sustainable Development and the Homo Sovieticus Syndrome. Acta Prosperitatis, 3, 49–60. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=asn&AN=84962047
  • Mokryk, R. (2018). Na Ukrajině končí epocha „homo sovieticus": Rozhovor s Myroslavem Marynovyčem. SALVE, (3), 25–32. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=asn&AN=134211682
  • Molchanov, M. A. (2015). Eurasian Regionalisms and Russian Foreign Policy. Farnham, Surrey, UK: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=841535
  • Nation-building in the post-Soviet borderlands : the politics of national identities, Smith, G., 2000
  • New states, new politics : building the post-Soviet nations, , 1997
  • Novikova, K. (2015). Informal networking as effective resource and sociocultural traditions of homo sovieticus. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.9EB2B709
  • Rada Cristina IRIMIE. (2014). Homo sovieticus: călătoria europeană a Omului Nou (Homo sovieticus: the European journey of the New Man). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.71C4698B
  • The age of anxiety : security and politics in Soviet and post-Soviet Russia, Galeotti, M., 1995
  • The post-Soviet Russian Orthodox Church : politics, culture and greater Russia, Richters, K., 2013
  • The role of informal economies in the post-Soviet world : the end of transition?, Williams, C. C., 2013
  • The role of informal economies in the post-Soviet world : the end of transition?, Williams, C. C., 2014
  • Toward nationalizing regimes : conceptualizing power and identity in the post-soviet realm, Kudaibergenova, D. T., 2020
  • Vasili Rukhadze, & Glen Duerr. (2016). Sovereignty issues in the Caucasus: contested ethnic and national identities in Chechnya, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.2CC34EB0
  • Wojciech Woźniak. (2014). From underclass to Homo sovieticus. Human constraints towards modernization. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.3C930AD4
  • Woźniak, W. (2014). From underclass to Homo sovieticus: Human constraints towards modernization. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.81A63621
  • Woźniak, W. (2014). Od underclass do Homo sovieticusa: Czynnik ludzki hamulcem modernizacji ; From underclass to Homo sovieticus. Human constraints towards modernization. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.D8677543
  • Zhang, X., Li, L., & Gabuev, A. (2016). Competition or Coordination? The Eurasian Economic Union and China’s, One Belt, One Road Initiative. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.A0E28AE9

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Abkhazia and South Ossetia: time to talk trade / International Crisis Group. (2018). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.506196690
  • Bakke, K. M., O’Loughlin, J., Toal, G., & Ward, M. D. (2014). Convincing State-Builders? Disaggregating Internal Legitimacy in Abkhazia. International Studies Quarterly, 58(3), 591–607. https://doi.org/10.1111/isqu.12110
  • Berg, E. (DE-576)186772246. (2015). Was the West’s engagement with Abkhazia doomed to fail? [Elektronische Ressource] / Eiki Berg. Washington/D.C: PONARS Eurasia. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.454717121
  • Binová, G. P. (2013). Homo sovieticus eroticus ; (Формы и деформации эротической тематики в литературе советского периода) ; (Formy i deformacii èrotičeskoj tematiki v literature sovetskogo perioda). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.BE827674
  • Dzutsati, V. (DE-588)1163247235, (DE-576)50785120X. (2015). Russia to strip Abkhazia and South Ossetia of their limited sovereignty / Valeriy Dzutsev. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.444964088
  • Fischer, S. (2016). The conflicts over Abkhazia and South Ossetia in light of the crisis over Ukraine / Sabine Fischer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.488469503
  • Fischer, S. V. (DE-588)128518138, (DE-627)37420120X, (DE-576)297190644, aut. (2019). The Donbas conflict opposing interests and narratives, difficult peace process Sabine Fischer ; Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.1663346933
  • Gachechiladze, Z. (1995). The conflict in Abkhazia : a Georgian perspective / Zaza Gachechiladze. [Washington, D.C.] : National Defense University, Institute for National Strategic Studies, 1995. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsgpr&AN=edsgpr.000438378
  • Harzl, B. V. (DE-588)1093586982, (DE-576)327476575, aut. (2017). Russia’s approach to Abkhazia and South Ossetia : problematic legal and normative rationales for citizenship and bilateral treaties / by Benedikt Harzl (University of Graz/Johns Hopkins University). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.494541210
  • Javaid, F., & Ali Dashti, A. (2018). Reviewing the Role of Commonwealth of Independent States (Cis) with Special Reference to U.S. Rivalry Towards Centralasia. New Horizons (1992-4399), 12(1), 69–84. https://doi.org/10.2.9270/NH.12.2(18).05
  • Kompa, K. (2012). Commonwealth of Independent States Economic Development: Multidimensional Comparison of States. Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia, (2), 72–89. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10031-012-0027-4
  • Kopeček Vincenc, Hoch Tomáš, & Baar Vladimír. (2016). De Facto States and Democracy: The Case of Abkhazia. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.3BB11FF0
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, T. (2003). The Russian-Chechen tragedy: the way to peace and democracy. Central Asian Survey, 22(4), 481–509. https://doi.org/10.1080/0263493042000202698
  • Moore, C. (2010). Contemporary Violence : Postmodern War in Kosovo and Chechnya. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=515083
  • NIERODKA, P. (2012). Józef Tischner W Sporze O Społeczną Naturę Człowieka. Homo Sovieticus a Homo Solidaritus. Studia Philosophiae Christianae, 48(4), 75–95. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=asn&AN=102961627
  • Nikolaevna Chumakova, O. (2019). Comparative Analysis of the Historical Development of the Legal Regulation of the Preliminary Contract in the Russian Federation and Some CIS Countries. Journal of History, Culture & Art Research / Tarih Kültür ve Sanat Arastirmalari Dergisi, 8(2), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.7596/taksad.v8i2.2077
  • Nikolai V. Mityukov. (2016). The Periodization of Fighting on Donbass in 2014–2015 years. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.9092E06A
  • Rasoulinezhad, E. (2019). Analyzing Energy Export Patterns from the Commonwealth of Independent States to China: New Evidence from Gravity Trade Theory. Chinese Economy, 52(3), 279–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/10971475.2018.1548145
  • Susanna Bagdasaryan, & Svetlana Petrova. (2017). The Republic of Abkhazia as an Unrecognized State. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.7C2B467
  • Tobór-Osadnik, P. D. K., Wyganowska, P. D. M., & Kabalski, P. D. P. (2013). International Financial Reporting Standards vs. homo sovieticus personality the case of Poland. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.BC1B9426

Authors

  • IVANOV EVGENIY ALEKSANDROVICH