Fall 2024: September 9 – December 27
Subject: PS (Political Science)
Course Level: 200
Number of Credits: 4 U.S. / 8 ECTS
Max Enrollment: 22
Schedule: Mon Wed 17:50 – 19:10 CET (Berlin) | 11:50 – 13:10 EDT (New York)
Distributional Area: Social Analysis, Difference and Justice
Language of Instruction: Russian
Course Prerequisites: Russian B2 / Equivalent or higher

This course examines the political trajectory of Russia after 1991. We will look closely at various parameters of the Russian political system and explore their significance – from the public opinion and resource-dependent economy to the design of the Russian Constitution and the elections as a socio-political institution. Aiming to find out what facilitated or hindered the authoritarian backlash, we will review the resources at the disposal of Russian authorities and the opposition. Since Post-Soviet Russian politics is a well-researched field, one of our objectives will be learning how to navigate among dozens of studies and varied perspectives. We will discuss scholarly approaches to electoral manipulation, civic engagement, political values, parties, civil society, the role of business, and welfare policy. Among our other subjects will be the gender and ethnic policies, traditional media vs. the Internet, local and regional politics, Russian courts, the country’s repressive apparatus, and its foreign policy. Students will learn which centers and teams are involved in the empirical research on contemporary Russian politics, what consensus has been reached, and what academic debates are still ongoing.

Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose:
Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.

Application Portal Instructions:
1) Use the Latin alphabet for all entries on the portal, including your name. If the Language of Instruction is Russian, you may use Cyrillic only within the Statement of Purpose file, and the title of the file should still be in English.
2) Refrain from using email addresses associated with Russian or Belarusian educational institutions.
3) While completing the “Required Information” section, ensure you fill in the “Province” field for your address.
4) Provide an address outside Russia or Belarus in both the “Required Information” and “Geographic Location Confirmation” sections of the “Online Course Application”. This ensures we can send your transcript.
5) You must press the “Sign” button twice during the application.
6) If you hold a bachelor’s degree, select “4th+” in the “Academic Year (online)” section.
7) Applicants either unaffiliated or affiliated with educational institutions in Russia and Belarus should list ‘Smolny Beyond Borders’ as their educational institution.
8) In the student ID section, enter ‘SBB’.
9) Consider drafting your motivation letter ahead of time. Save it as a separate file with this format: LastName_FirstName_CourseTitle for a smoother application process.