ECON 231 - European Economic History
4 credits
Wishart, David
Pre-requisite: None
This course examines the evolution of capitalism in Europe from the Paleolithic period to the present, the impact of European capitalism on economies and societies in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, the rise and demise of centrally planned state socialist economies in Russia and the Eastern European countries, and the prospects for European economic integration. The topics presented in this course will emphasize the use of principles of economics to understand historical change and methods of empirical analysis that are commonly used by economic historians. Grades will be determined by two exams, a final, and a 10-15 page term paper. Lecture/discussion format. Writing Intensive.
ECON 275: Economies in Transition
4 credits
Frost, Marcia
Prerequisite: Econ 190
Transition economics, a new field since the early 1990s, explores the process and results of the decisions of the nation states of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and East Asia to move from centrally-planned toward market and from socialist toward capitalist economies. A central focus of the course will be the examination of the strategies pursued and progress of transition in these countries at the macro and sectoral levels, the institutions that have evolved, and the human welfare consequences of the transition process. This course meets the non-Western goal (C) and is cross-listed with East Asian and Russian and Central Eurasian Area Studies; offered every 3rd semester.
GEOG 250C/S 01/02W Russian and Central Eurasian Geography
4 credits
Medvedkov, Olga
Pre-requisites: None
For the first time in all Russian history geography speaks for itself. After the disintegration of the Soviet Empire regions became exceedingly important in this highly centralized state. The current government is trying to reestablish control over the regions. Who will win in this geo-political game? Will Russia become a democratic state or it will pull back to the dictatorship? Will newly independent states like Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan gravitate to Russian economic and political domain or create new alliances with other bordering countries?
We will discuss it throughout the course. The class will be focused on changing space economy, environmental and population issues, national identity problems, political orientation in different regions of the post-Soviet space. This course has a lecture-discussion-project format. Students are expected to complete several map assignments, participate in class discussions, and to write a final paper on major topics.
HIST 252 C/H 1W. Russian History since 1796
4 credits
Raffensperger, Christian
Prerequisite: none
After the death of Catherine the Great in 1796, Russia is fully enmeshed in European and world history. Over the course of this class we will see Russian troops in Paris and Soviet troops in Berlin, as well as Russian and Soviet activity throughout the world. Russia also goes through a series of dramatic changes in this period from the conservative reaction under Catherine’s son to cycles of reform and reaction throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. That cycle will spark multiple revolutions in 1905-6, and 1917, leading to the birth of the first socialist state. The history of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will occupy most of our time, and we will discuss the building of socialism in one country, as well as the position of the Soviet Union in world affairs. Writing intensive.
HIST 390 1W. Russian Revolution
4 credits
Raffensperger, Christian
Prerequisite: HIST 202C/H or permission of instructor.
This class will explore the Russian Revolution of 1917 as a historical event that changed Russia, and the world. But it will also focus on the perceptions of that revolution, specifically, how historians have understood the Russian Revolution, and used it in their own ideological constructs. This will showcase a variety of historical schools of thought, but also show a change of opinion over time, particularly relevant now that nearly two decades have passed since the fall of the Soviet Union. The class will have a heavy reading load focused on the revolution and historiography,and grading will be largely on thematic papers, oral assignments, and discussion. Writing intensive.
POLI 352 1W Russian Foreign Policy
4 credits
Hudson, Gerry
Prerequisites: POLI 102S or 204H or 251 and Junior or Senior standing
This course examines the development and factors involved in Russian foreign policy, with an emphases on events since 1991 and on relations with the Central Eurasian nations. One of the major themes of the class will concern an understanding of the nature of the changes taking place in RFP under the Yeltsin, Putin, and Medvedev administrations. The transition in foreign policy during the Gorbachev years (1985-91) will also be discussed. The class will consider defense policy, economic policy, and the imperatives of the processes of nation-building and state-building as elements of Russian foreign policy. The class will center about the presentation and preparation of a lengthy term paper. 2/09
WRITING INTENSIVE
Russian 111: Beginning Russian I
5 credits
L. Zaharkov
Ninety minutes per week of independent lab time required.
Afraid of the Russian alphabet? Believe it or not, you already know almost half of it if you know Latin (our) alphabet and a little Greek from being a member of a sorority or a fraternity! After just five days you will be able to read many words that are borrowed from other languages! We use the computer to help us, too! Recent world economic events have convinced us that Russia is indeed an important player in the international economic arena. Don’t be left behind! This course also will teach you how to speak and write Russian while learning the structure of the language. In addition, this course is accompanied by a video program where we follow the adventures of an American who lands in Russia as a roving photographer to
learn about the people and the country.
Russian 230: CLAC Module. See description of Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum Above.
1 credit
L. Zaharkov
Prerequisite: Must either be enrolled in a 200-Level Russian course or have completed at least 2 credits at the 200-Level
Russian 241: Foreign Language Tutor Training
2 credits
B. Bertrand
Permission of instructor only
This two-credit, half semester course is designed to train potential foreign language tutors for employment in Wittenberg’s Foreign Language Learning Center (FLLC). Learning goals include effective tutoring strategies, training in language technologies, and course-specific sessions with language faculty. The course will be taught in English by the FLLC director and will combine both practical and theoretical material in the form of readings, video segments, discussion, and hands-on practice. Students who complete the course will receive a certificate from the CRLA stating that they are certified level 2 (Advanced) tutors. This course is mandatory for employment in the FLLC.
Russian 260/1.1: Understanding Contemporary Russian Social Issues
2 credits
L. Zaharkov
Prerequisite: Russian 112 or placement at the 200 level
Introduction to reading skills in Russian by using authentic materials from the contemporary Russian press found on the World Wide Web. Discussion of social and cultural issues in Russian society such as the role of women, education, political movements and youth groups, immigration and relocation issues of the former Soviet Republics.
Russian 263/1.2: Russian Film and Culture
2 credits
L. Zaharkov
Prerequisite: Russian 112 or placement at the 200 level
Through the study of Russian, students will watch and discuss films that acquaint students with contemporary Russian life. Students will learn the vocabulary necessary to discuss the portrayals of family, relationships, changing value systems, and social questions as reflected in Russian film. This course will also help students gain additional language skills in speaking and aural comprehension.
SOCI 390C 1W Russian and Central Eurasian Societies and Cultures
4 credits
Pankhurst, Jerry
Pre-requisites: One course in Sociology, RCEP major or minor, or Permission of Instructor.
The fifteen separate nations that resulted from the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 have all sought to find their own national identities and to establish workable social institutions. From families, religion and schools to government and economy, each nation has tried to establish the societal and cultural foundations for ongoing development. Significant separatist movements challenge national unity in several of these countries, and everywhere in the post-Soviet region, enormous cultural diversity challenges the development of common purpose and settled social life.
This course will explore the great social challenges facing the countries of the Russian and Central Eurasian region in the 21st Century and try to pinpoint major issues in institutional change that will determine the successes and failures in this epochal project. Using a sociological perspective, we will first review the history of the region to provide a basis for our exploration of the current conditions. Understanding the legacies of the communist era (1917-1991) will be particularly important for our inquiry. However, our goal will be to put into clear focus the emerging national identities and social dynamics of Russia and the other countries of the region today. (Because of its overwhelming size and power, Russia will occupy much of our attention, but we will also evaluate the other successor countries as much as possible. Individual students may pursue special interests related to any of the countries as part of the course.)
Course Format: Seminar. The course will include numerous readings, some to be presented to the class by students. Participation by students in class discussions will be important. Simultaneously, there will be some short papers working toward the enhancement of writing skills, and students will keep a portfolio of these papers to demonstrate patterns of improvement. Some peer review of these papers will be built into the course. In addition, each student will complete two book critiques and a term project on a subject selected in consultation with the instructor. Term projects will be presented to the class at the end of the semester. There will be two or three examinations on the core content of the course, and there may be an occasional quiz on the factual materials.
