Origins of the Russian Revolution of 1991 (VS1) (U03912)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-ORR

This is a study of the circumstances leading to the collapse of Communist power in Russia and the disintergration of the Soviet Union. We begin by surveying the initial problems faced by the Bolsheviks in their attempt to create socialism in Russia. Most of the time, however, is devoted to the final decades of Soviet power: de-Stalinization under Khrushchev, economic decline under Brezhnev, and the radical reforms by which Mikhail Gorbachev attempted to introduce social democracy under Leninist auspices.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : HI0028

? Pre-requisites : Visiting students should normally have 3 to 4 History courses at Grade B or above. Before enrolling students on this course, Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admissions Secretary to ensure that a place is available (tel. 503783).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Other subject areas

European Languages and Cultures - Russian Studies, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
20/09/2007	09:00	11:00	Room 9.01, David Hume Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Thursday	09:00	10:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to demonstrate, by way of essay and examination:

- a sound and coherent grasp of the course of Soviet political, social and cultural history between 1917 and 1991
- an understanding of the key concepts which are relevant to the study of Soviet history i.e. resistance and participation, the interaction of ideology and pragmatism, ethnic and super-national identities etc.
- ability to analyse critically the form and content of contemporary sources, produced by both Soviet and Western authors
- an understanding of how and why historiography on the USSR has developed over time, and the political implications of such changes
- ability to present their individual conclusions in a coherent, well-substantiated and appropriately-referenced fashion