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Academic Year 2004/2005

Russian and Soviet History 1881 to the Present
HIST 219 FA
Crosslistings:
REES 219

This course studies in considerable depth revolutionary and postrevolutionary Russia, war, Communism, NEP, the rise of Stalin, collectivization and industrialization, the Great Purges, the Second World War, de-Stalinization, the Soviet Union's rise and decline as a superpower, Gorbachev's gamble, his regime's collapse in 1991, Yeltsin's and Putin's government. Political, social, economic and cultural developments will be examined, with special attention to Lenin's adaptation of Marxism, the role of individual leaders in a context of forced industrialization, the impact of Stalinism on Lenin's "experiment," and the effort to reform Stalin's system.

MAJOR READINGS

R. Conquest, THE HARVEST OF SORROW
J. Dunlop, THE RISE OF RUSSIA AND THE FALL OF THE SOVIET EMPIRE
S. Fitzpatrick, STALIN'S PEASANTS
E. Ginzburg, JOURNEY INTO THE WHIRLWIND
R. Medvedev, KHRUSHCHEV: THE YEARS IN POWER
J. Scott, BEHIND THE URALS
H. Smith, THE RUSSIANS
J. Thompson, A VISION UNFULFILLED

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Examinations: A three-hour final. Papers: Three 6-8 page essays.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course ordinarily is given as a lecture course. However, there are usually ten minutes of discussion at the end of the lecture and several scheduled discussions.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005

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