HSY2540

Modern Russia: the rise and fall of Soviet power

Ian Cummins

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

Objectives Students successfully completing this subject should have acquired a knowledge and understanding of the genesis, evolution and demise of the Soviet order, entailing in turn some acquaintance with ideological issues involved. They should also have developed an awareness of scholarly debate on the nature of Stalinism and its links with Leninism, as well as on the reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In the process, students should continue to develop their critical and analytical skills appropriate to this discipline.

Synopsis This subject will examine the origins, course and impact of the Russian revolutions of 1917. It will then focus on the rise and evolution of the Soviet regime, principally in the eras of Lenin and Stalin, and consider the causes of the end of the Soviet order in 1991.

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

Prescribed texts

Carr E H The Russian Revolution from Lenin to Stalin, 1917- 1929 Macmillan, 1980
Christian D Power and privilege: The Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and the challenge of modernity Longman, 1994
Fitzpatrick S The Russian Revolution OUP, 1983
Hosking G A history of the Soviet Union Fontana, 1992
Keep J L H The last of the empires OUP, 1996
Kochan L and Abraham R The making of modern Russia Pelican, 1990
Nove A Stalinism and after Allen and Unwin, 1975
Schapiro L The Communist Party of the Soviet Union Methuen, 1970
Tucker R C The Lenin anthology Norton, 1980
Von Laue T H Why Lenin? Why Stalin? Why Gorbachev? Harper Collins, 1993
White S After Gorbachev 4th edn, CUP, 1993
Wilson E To the Finland station Fontana, 1988