electiveHQ

The module will introduce students to politics in countries of the ex-Soviet Union, covering the main political developments, events, institutions, and processes in the region. We will start with a historical overview of the pre-Soviet (imperial Russia) and Soviet periods and then focus on topics related to politics in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Georgia and other countries after the fall of the Soviet Union. We will assess how and why, despite shared historical legacies, some post-Soviet countries succeeded in democratic transition while others established authoritarian regimes. The course will put the regional developments in the global context, introducing students to the main theories and comparative literature on democratic transitions and reversals. (This module will be taught by Dr Nikita Khokhlov.)