DAFF 25A29 - Contemporary Russia’s Domestic Politics And Foreign Policy

DAFF 25A29 · Spring semester 2025-2026

Language of tuition
English
Course type
Cours séminaire
Number of hours
24
Credits
5

Information

Description

This course focuses on the evolutions of domestic politics and foreign policy in Russia since the collapse of the USSR. After a brief introduction to the nature of the Soviet political system, the course is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the period of political transition following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the genesis of the political system in contemporary Russia. Contrary to hopes of liberalization, Russian society was plunged into a financial, economic, political and social crisis, which favored a rapid return to authoritarianism. The second part looks at the genesis of Putinism and how the ruling elite came to dominate society. Finally, the third part focuses on post-Soviet Russia's foreign policy and the implementation of its ambitions on the international stage.

Prerequisites

None

Assessment

Students will work in pairs to prepare a press review, which they will present at a session of their choice (40%) ;

A participation and commitment grade will be awarded for attendance, participation and involvement (10%) ;

2h-Final exam in class 50%

Readings

Main readings 4

  1. • Alena Ledeneva, Can Russia Modernise ? Sistema, Power Networks and Informal Governance, Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2013.

  2. • Guzel Garifullina, « The best among the connected (men) : promotion in the Russian state apparatus, Post-Soviet Affairs, Vol. 39, issue 6, 2023.

  3. • Nikolay Petrov, « Siloviki in Russian Regions: New Dogs, Old Tricks », The Journal of Power Institutions in Post-Soviet Societies [Online], Issue 2 | 2005.

  4. • Vladimir Gel’man, The Politics of Bad Governance in Contemporary Russia, The University of Michigan Press, 2022.

Further readings 3

  1. « Putin: The New Tsar », Patrick Forbes

    Read online

  2. « Putin's Palace », Aleksey Navalny

    Read online

  3. « Putin’s witnesses », Vitaly Mansky

Teaching units

Unit no.Unit type Teaching unitsTeachers Number of hoursCredits
56386Cours séminaire Contemporary Russia’s Domestic Politics And Foreign Policy Victor VIOLIER245

Teachers

  • Victor VIOLIER

In the curricula

Contacts and resources

Contact
NICOULEAU Svetlana