Fall 2006
Instructor: Lynda Park
MWF 2:00 - 2:50 PM
145 Armory

REES 200A (CRN 41441) is an interdisciplinary survey course devoted to the history, culture, society and politics of Russia and Eurasia.  The course is designed to provide students with a broad, yet substantive, overview of the regions.  In addition to addressing issues of major historical and political concern, this course will also explore Russian and Soviet art, literature, music and film, diverse national cultures and ethnic conflicts, Russian youth counter-culture, women's issues, and post-Soviet law and economy.  The aim of the course is that by studying culture, society and everyday life as well as politics and history, students will develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of Russia and Eurasia.  

The course is team-taught by faculty and area specialists at the University of Illinois.  As such, a secondary goal of the course is to acquaint students with the resources available to them should they wish to pursue their interests in Russian, East European and Eurasian studies.

REES 200A meets the University guidelines as a general education social science course.  It is a required course for those wishing to major in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.  There are no prerequisites or requirements to take the course.

COURSE SYLLABUS

Sahakyan Powerpoint on the Five-Year Plans

Rosenstein Powerpoint on the Nuclear Arms Race and Reduction

Sahakyan PDF on Why the Command Economy Failed

Olcott's article on Central Asia [PDF]

Tayler's article on Georgia [PDF]

LINKS

e-reserve: http://web.library.uiuc.edu/ereserves/querycourse.asp

"17 Moments in Soviet History": http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php
"Russian Chronicles – Ten Years Later": http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/russianchronicles/

EurasiaNet's "Kyrgyzstan: Revolution Revisited" http://www.eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan/

New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com

Johnson’s Russia List: http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/default.cfm

Probably the most comprehensive site for Russian news, has useful links to other relevant sites. You can subscribe to the listserv and get your news via e-mail.

BBC News Country Profile: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/country_profiles/default.stm

Has an overview, basic facts, leaders, and historical timelines; can listen to the national anthem. Has country profiles of other FSU countries.