HSY2530

The decline of imperial Russia

Ian Cummins

8 points
* Two lectures and one tutorial per week
* First semester
* Clayton

Objectives Students successfully completing this subject should have acquired a knowledge and understanding of Russian society and politics in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, together with some awareness of cultural developments during that period. They should be aware of scholarly debate about movements for reform, revolution and stabilisation in the last century or so before the collapse of the Russian monarchy in 1917.

Synopsis This subject will be concerned principally with the political, social and intellectual history of Russia from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century. While particular emphasis will be given to changes in Russia's political and social structure and to the growth of opposition movements, intellectual and cultural developments during this period will also be considered.

Assessment Class paper (1500 words) and long essay (2500 words): 60%
* Examination (2 hours): 30%
* Class participation/attendance: 10%

Prescribed texts

Berlin I Russian thinkers Pelican, 1979
Christian D Power and privilege: The Russian empire, the Soviet Union and the challenge of modernity Longman, 1994
Kochan L Russia in revolution Paladin, 1970
Kochan L and Abraham R The Making of Modern Russia Pelican, 1990
Lenin V I What is to be done? Progress Publishers, Moscow (or Penguin), 1990
Pipes R Russia under the old regime Penguin, 1977
Schapiro L The Communist Party of the Soviet Union Methuen, 1970
Turgenev I S Fathers and sons Penguin, 1990