Russia, Erasia & the Crisis of the Lib W (998M9)
Russia, Eurasia and the Crisis of the Liberal West
Module 998M9
Module details for 2022/23.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)
Module Outline
Why is Russia meddling in Western elections and supporting right-wing populists across the globe? And how might this be connected to a deeper crisis of the liberal West? This module explores Russia’s resurgence as an illiberal global actor and its roots in developments in the Eurasian region since the end of the Cold War. After the Soviet collapse, Russia and the new states of the region became a laboratory for the globalization of liberal norms and a fast-track transition to democracy and capitalism. 30 years later, these transitions have produced ‘virtual democracies’, kleptocratic states whose elites are active players in a global ‘offshore capitalism’. Russia under Putin has emerged as a challenger to the liberal international order, explicitly contesting liberal norms and contributing to geopolitical shifts. At the same time, China is now a major player in Eurasia and the Russian-Chinese alignment is shaped by regional interactions. Paying attention to regional legacies of non-Western empires and Soviet modernization, we will critically examine IR debates about power, identity and empire and learn how Russia and Eurasia are shaped by and contribute to current global transformations. No specialist historical knowledge necessary; relevant material is covered in class.
Topics include: The ‘Putin system’ and kleptocratic networks; identities and political imaginaries, from hyper-masculinity to the geopolitical imaginary of ‘the West’; identities, borders and protracted conflicts; Russia, the West and struggles for democracy; the geopolitics of energy in Eurasia; Russia, China and the Belt and Road Initiative; EU, NATO and Russia; Russia’s challenge to liberal norms and LBTGQ rights; Russian cyber operations and the changing nature of state power; the emerging impact of the pandemic on regional and global politics.
Module learning outcomes
Evaluate theoretical and conceptual debates with reference to the global role of Russia and work with suitable concepts in arguments on the place of the region in global politics
Have formed a broad understanding of the historical background and recent developments of Russia’s post-Cold War transformation as an international actor –i.e. an understanding of the contexts, pressures and constraints (international and domestic) which Russian foreign policy makers have to deal with.
Have formed an intellectual sensibility to historical, political and cultural specificities of Russia and the region.
Have formed abroad understanding of how Russian actions and regional developments reflect and affect global dynamics.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Essay (5000 words) | Semester 2 Assessment Week 3 Thu 16:00 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Seminar | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Mrs Daniella Kiernan
Assess convenor
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Dr Anne Roemer-Mahler
Assess convenor
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Mx Emilia Moscardini-Powers
Assess convenor
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Dr Stefanie Ortmann
Convenor
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Dr Melanie Richter-Montpetit
Assess convenor
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