OAFP 5450 - Europe and Russia

This course aims to sharpen your understanding of political and geostrategic interests driving the EU-Russia relations. We will achieve this goal through weekly reading assignments, in-class discussions, oral presentations, a debate, and an analytical paper. The course will proceed in two parts.

Part I, Introduction into the past and present of the EU-Russia relations, will start with looking at the historical and cultural ties between Europe and Russia and the modern history of their relationship since the fall of the Soviet Union. It will continue with an overview of the Russian government system, and follow up by comparative EU-Russia approach to the common neighborhood. We will analyze the causes of the modern Russia’s antagonism toward “the West,” study the evolution of the EU-Russia trade relations in the light of regional conflicts, information and cyber wars.

Building upon Part I, Part II will analyze the EU-Russia relations from the micro-economic perspective, through the prism of energy business. Through discussions, lectures and oral briefings, we will develop an understanding about the role of business in politics and the role of politics in business in Russia. We will decompose the EU-Russia relations by looking at 3 energy markets: gas, oil, and nuclear.

By the end of the course, you will have learned what drives the EU-Russia relations, as well as the practical skills of business analysis, presenting your ideas in a structured and well-argued way in spoken and written English.

None.

Seminar course (24hrs).

Class discussion and debate: 30% of the grade

Analytical paper/memo: 40% of the grade.

In-class presentation: 30% of the grade.

This class is a seminar. It means that you are expected to read the assigned articles on the topic and come prepared to discuss them in class. The average reading volume is 50 pages per session. Specific, detailed questions about the readings will be asked in class. Every student will be evaluated in every class on his understanding of the reading, the topic, and his/her ability to discuss it. The cumulative evaluation will account for 25% of the final grade.