IS 2600 - Perspectives on Russia (4)

Monday,Wednesday,Friday

10:40 AM - 11:47 AM

Main Campus Campus | South Foundation Hall | Room 368

This course will examine the intellectual, ideological, cultural, social, and political changes that have evolved throughout the centuries. To comprehend Russia today, it is important to understand its history. Its future, however, depends on the ability of its people to overcome the deeply rooted political and economic obstacles of its heritage. Prerequisites/Comments: Satisfies the university general education requirement in the global perspective knowledge exploration area. Satisfies the university requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite for writing intensive: completion of the university writing foundation requirement. WRT 1060 or equivalent with a grade of C or higher. This course is offered as a partially online course. Ten to seventy-five percent of contact hours (in-class time) are replaced with online activities. (Formerly IS 260)

2. Students should acquire a basic knowledge of political, economic and social problems the Russian and East/Central European people face as they encounter our contemporary world.

3. In conjunction with the first two objectives, students should develop an awareness of how Russian and East/Central European distinctive social and cultural traditions and particular historical experience have shaped the current patterns of thought and activity of the people of the region.

4. Students should indicate the sources of communist ideology, principals of Marxism, its initial appeal, circumstances of its implementation and its outcomes including the devastating influence that communism had on Europe in the 20th century. Recognize the factors that led to the demise of communism, and the ways it took place in particular European countries.

5. Students should analyze the gains and pains being experienced by the former communist states on their road to democracy and a free market economy

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o Ledeneva, Alena V. Can Russia Modernise? Sistema, power Networks and
Informal Governance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2013
o Medvedev, Roy. Post-Soviet Russia: A Journey Through the Yeltsin Era. New
York, NY: Columbia University Press. 2000.
o Meier, Andrew.  Black Earth: A Journey Through Russia After the Fall.  New
York: W. W.   Norton & Company, 2003.
o Riasanovsky, Nicholas V.  A History of Russia, 6 th ed.  New York: Oxford
University Press. 2000.
o Remick, David.  Resurrection: A Struggle for New Russia. New York: Vintage
Books. 1998.
o _____ .  Lenin’s Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire.  New York:
Random House. 1993.
o Satter, David. It Was a Long Time Ago, and It Never Happened: Russia and
the Communist Past. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. 2012.
o Shevtsova, Lilia. Russia Lost in Transition: The Yelstsin and Putin Legacies.
Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2007.
o _____. Lonely Power: Why Russia Has Failed To Become the West, and the
West…. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2010.
o _____ and Andrew Wood. Change or Decay: Russia’s Dilemma and the West’s
Response. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 2011.

Unit Question Assignments (24%)

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The purpose of the question assignments is to help students focus on the key topics
and/or issues presented in respective course unit materials. There are eight (8)
question assignments. Each assignment is worth 3%.
Assignments (21%)
There are a total of seven (7) are internet assignments interspersed throughout the
course. Each assignment has a specific focus and instructions. Students are to follow the
instructions for each assignment. Each assignment is worth 3%.
Critical Reflection Paper (15%)
Students will write one (1) critical reflection paper. Paper expectations are 4 - 6 pages
in length. The paper is divided into the following components, each with its own
specific deadline: The instructor must approve all topics for the team project no later
than Sunday January 26, 2020!!
 Paper topic selection (Due by 11:50 PM Sunday January 26, 2020!)
 Outline for paper (Due by 11:50 PM Sunday February 16, 2020!)
 Annotated bibliography of resource materials (Due by 11:50 PM Sunday
March 15, 2020!)
 Paper for Peer Review deadline (Due by 11:50 PM Sunday March 29,
2020!)
 Peer review of paper (Due by 11:50 PM Wednesday April 1, 2020!)
 Final version of paper (Due by 11:50 PM Tuesday April 7, 2019!)
Grading for the critical reflection paper is based on the following components:  
 peer review 5% out of 15%
 final paper  10% out of 15%
TOTAL 20% out of 20%

Course Unit Question - 8 @ 3% 24%
Internet Assignments - 7 @ 3% 21%
Critical Reflection Paper - 1 @ 15% 15%
Individual Unit Quizzes - 10 @ % 5% 40%
TOTAL 100%