Explaining Contemporary Russian Politics: Institutions and Practices

2024/2025

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

6

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

School of Politics and Governance

Course type:

Compulsory course

When:

1 year, 1, 2 module

Instructors

Makarenko, Boris

Petrov, Ivan

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is intended to introduce the students to contemporary Russian politics. It is designed as an overview of principal political institutions of the Russian state. These institutions are analyzed through the lens of comparative political science using neoinstitutional methodological approach, looking not only at the formal framework, but also on the actual performance of actors and institutions, which evolved in Russia since early 1990s. The course covers not only state institutions, but looks at the “agents of change” such as private enterprise, civil society, political culture, collective action, etc. The course aims at strengthening students’ knowledge of contemporary Russia, developing skills to interpret and analyze political events, intellectual and historical outlook, to maintain professional and public discussion.

Learning Objectives

• Acquaint the students with the main institutions, events and actors of contemporary Russian politics and teach them the basic skills of its interpretation and analysis
• Provide knowledge of basic ideas and concepts of comparative political science and teach students the skill of applying theoretical knowledge to analysis of individual polities and societies
• Advance the students’ skills of analysis, rhetorical strategies and presentation techniques

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Develop the skills of applied political science, preparing students for professional careers
• Сompetence to use complex approaches to analysis of political events, combining the “thick description” approach (case study) with comparative theoretical concepts
• Сompetencies to understand and analyze political events using the theoretical knowledge

Course Contents

• Russia’s way to modernity. Specific features of Russia’s political development and the model of post-Communist transition.
• From the USSR to Russia. The “Soviet stage” of transition.
• Institutional design of the Russian state. Opportunities and problems.
• Presidency and the executive branch of power in Russia.
• The legislative branch of power in Russia.
• Checks and balances in the Russian political system.
• Russian model of neocorporativism.
• “Agents of change” in contemporary Russia. Government and private enterprise.
• Civil Society in Russia.
• The Russian model of federalism: the center and the regions.
• Political culture and political subcultures in Russia.
• Political pluralism and political competition in Russia.
• Political parties in Russia
• Collective action in Russia. The phenomenon of mass movements and “color revolutions” in Russia and the post-Communist space.
• Russia’s political development in a comparative context.

Assessment Elements

• Семинары по курсу
  3 семинара проверяющих усвоение материала по темам. От студентов ожидаются 5-минутные выступления по темам семинаров.
• Промежуточная контрольная
  Письменная контольная, содержащая ряд вопросов на знание материала и один вопрос, требующий короткого текстового ответа
• Семинары
  Семинары, проверяющие усвоение материалов курса (аналогично семинарам 1 модуля)
• эссе
  Эссе на одну из тем из предложенного преподавателем списка или по усмотрению студента (требует согласования с преподавателем)
• экзамен
  Письменный экзамен. Требует ответа на несколько вопросы, проверяющих знание изучаемого материала и два вопроса, требующие короткого текстового ответа

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 2nd module
  0.1 * Промежуточная контрольная + 0.2 * Семинары + 0.2 * Семинары по курсу + 0.25 * экзамен + 0.25 * эссе

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Chaisty P. Legislative politics and economic power in Russia. – Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. – С. 149.
• Leichtova M. Misunderstanding Russia: Russian Foreign Policy and the West. – Routledge, 2016.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Bunin, I. M. (2015). Russia: business and state [Elektronische Ressource] / Igor Bunin; Alexey Makarkin. Paris: Institut Français des Relations Internationales. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.468212639
• Makarenko, B. I. (2012). The Post-Soviet Party of Power. Russian Social Science Review, 53(4), 27–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611428.2012.11065482
• Makarenko, B., & Melville, A. (2011). How Do “Transitions to Democracy” Get Stuck and Where? Conference Papers —— International Studies Association, 1–21. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=poh&AN=119955018
• Melville, A., Stukal, D., & Mironiuk, M. (2014). “King of the Mountain,” or Why Postcommunist Autocracies Have Bad Institutions. Russian Social Science Review, 55(4), 16–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611428.2014.11065553
• Poljakov, L. (DE-588)105616249X, (DE-576)412730022. (2015). “Conservatism” in Russia [Elektronische Ressource] : political tool or historical choice? / Leonid Polyakov. Paris: Ifri - Institut Français des Relations Internationales. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.468249583
• Remington, T. F. (2016). Politics in Russia (Vol. Seventh edition). London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1036494

Authors

• Karpich Yuliya Vladimirovna
• PETROV IVAN IGOREVICH
• Makarenko Boris Igorevich