COURSE UNIT TITLE

: POST-SOVIET POLITICS

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
IRE 4130 POST-SOVIET POLITICS ELECTIVE 3 0 0 5

Offered By

International Relations (English)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ILKIM ÖZDIKMENLI ÇELIKOĞLU

Offered to

Political Science and International Relations (English)
International Relations (English)

Course Objective

This course is designed to analyse the growing strategic importance of the Russian Federation (Russia) in the international system through an area-focused academic training based on the Post-Soviet space. The aim of this course is to examine the connection of Russia and the other 14 post-Soviet states by examining the social, political and economic development of these states since 1991 on the purpose of discussing whether there are common patterns for state and nation building, institution building, and democratisation in theory and practice. In this regard, having a critical understanding of the shared Soviet legacy and political landscape is crucial for students to assess the politics, identities and conflicts across the post-Soviet region. Although the post-Soviet states have gained their political, economic and cultural independence, Russia still plays a dominant role in internal and external affairs of the various successor states. For this reason, as well as taking a thematic approach with reference to important features of the region's shared Soviet legacy to explore patterns among the post-Soviet states, this course also studies Russian foreign policy particularly towards its neighbours.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Students will gain a critical understanding about the actors, institutions and processes associated with the post-Soviet region.
2   Students will gain a disciplinary knowledge to understand how the post-Soviet states have diverged and converged in their political, economic and social developments.
3   Students will be able to explain political, economic, and social developments in the post-Soviet states by using theoretical concepts.
4   Students will have knowledge on major issue areas and conflicts in the post-Soviet states.
5   Students will develop effective communication skills by having an opportunity to integrate and apply knowledge to analysis and arguments about the conflicts and political issues in the region by conducting research and presenting their term project.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction
2 Key Themes and the Nature of the Soviet Political and Economic System
3 The Soviet Collapse: The Communist Party and its Legacy
4 The Russian System in Transition
5 Independent States and Nations: The Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia)
6 Independent States and Nations: The Western States (Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus)
7 Independent States and Nations: The Caucasus States (Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia)
8 Independent States and Nations: The Central Asian States (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan)
9 The Return of Authoritarianism in Russia and Putin s System
10 Russian Foreign Policy towards its Neighbours
11 Conflicts in the post-Soviet Region-I
12 Conflicts in the post-Soviet Region-II
13 Russian Hybrid Warfare: The Case of Ukraine
14 Overview

Recomended or Required Reading

To be announced during the semester.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1.Lecture
2.Participation

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MT Midterm
2 FN Final
3 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MT * 0.40 + FN * 0.60
4 RST RESIT
5 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MT * 0.40 + RST * 0.60


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

1. The learner will identify and explain key issues associated with post-Soviet transitions and politics.
2. The learner will be able to make critical and reasoned argument about current political developments in International Relations with an in-depth knowledge of the post-Soviet space.
3. The learner will be able to express views in a clear and precise manner.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Attending at least 70% of lectures is mandatory.
2. Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.
3. Participation in class and group work is necessary.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

fulya.akgul@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

By appointment

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 3 42
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 13 4 52
Preparation for midterm exam 1 15 15
Preparing assignments 1 20 20
Preparing presentations 0 6 0
Midterm 1 1,5 2
Final 1 1,5 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 133

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13
LO.15
LO.25
LO.35
LO.45
LO.55

CONTACT INFORMATION
Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Cumhuriyet Bulvarı No: 144 35210 Alsancak / İZMİR
Phone: +90(232) 412 12 12 - Fax: +90 (232) 464 81 35

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