POLS 2530 01, POLS 2530 01H Dr. Ellen Carnaghan Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics Political Science, McGannon 140 Saint Louis University [email protected] Fall 2016, TR 9:30 – 10:45 (314) 977-3038 “We hoped for the best, but things turned out as usual.” Viktor Chernomydrin, Prime Minister of Russia, 1992-1998 http://pennpoliticalreview.org/archives/3074 Office hours: Tuesday 1:00-2:00 and Thursday 11:00-1:00, and by appointment I am often (but not always) in my office at other times. Feel free to drop by. Course objectives This course uses the experience of the Soviet Union and contemporary Russia to understand change in political and economic systems, from collapse of existing governments to the revolutionary reconstruction of society to tensions between autocracy and a government responsive to popular demands. Particular focus is placed on how ordinary citizens are affected by systemic social and political change and the factors that influence whether they can shape political outcomes. For Political Science majors, this class counts as a comparative politics course. WELCOME! Learning outcomes This class fulfills the core Global Citizenship requirement. The Global Citizenship requirement is designed to educate students about global and transnational problems and to provide students with the tools to address issues of social justice beyond the United States. Students who complete the Global Citizenship requirement will gain a substantial subset of the following capabilities: 1. Identify sources of and strategies to address conflict, cooperation or competition in a global or regional context. 2. Investigate how people and nations confront inequality and claim a just place, whether in their own societies or in the world. 3. Identify how perceptions of “otherness” impact leaders, communities, and community-building in areas beyond the U.S. through the examination of such factors as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, economic class, age, physical and mental capability, and sexual orientation. 4. Understand the impact of their lives and choices on global and international issues. 5. Understand how their values are related to those of other people in the world. This class also fulfills the core Social Science requirement. Students will acquire conceptual tools and methodologies to analyze and understand their social world. With these tools, you will be able to act in the world more effectively and become forces for positive change. You will gain a better understanding of human diversity. You will be able to think and write critically about human behavior and community. You will become aware of the various methodological approaches used by social scientists. Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics Page 2 Specifically, after this class you will be able to: Develop coherent, logically supported arguments, both written and oral Describe how Western perceptions of the Soviet Union and Russia shaped policy Analyze how leaders, their values, and their policies shape society Assess the social costs of autocracy Evaluate competing scholarly arguments, especially about the nature of totalitarianism, the determinants of social and political change, and the reasons for the development of democracy or autocracy Examine the causes and consequences of political and social tensions in multi-ethnic regimes Analyze the nature of state power and how it is expressed through political institutions Adjudicate between competing theories or arguments, giving credit to perspectives other than your own Become more sensitive to diverse understandings of social and economic justice Appreciate the human costs and political demands of social change Analyze the power of citizens to affect regimes in nondemocratic systems University Writing Services: I encourage you to take advantage of University Writing Services. Getting feedback benefits all writers! Trained writing consultants can help with any writing, multimedia project, or oral presentation. During one-on-one consultations, you can work on everything from brainstorming and developing ideas to crafting strong sentences and documenting sources. These services do fill up, so please make an appointment! Also, bring your assignment description, and a few goals, to the consultation! For more information, or to make an appointment, visit www.slu.edu/writingservices.xml or call 977-3484. Student Success Center In recognition that people learn in a variety of ways and that learning is influenced by multiple factors (e.g., prior experience, study skills, learning disability), resources to support student success are available on campus. The Student Success Center assists students with academic and career related services, is located in the Busch Student Center (Suite, 331) and the School of Nursing (Suite, 114). Students can visit www.slu.edu/success to learn more about: Course-level support (e.g., faculty member, departmental resources, etc.) by asking your course instructor. University-level support (e.g., tutoring services, university writing services, disability services, academic coaching, career services, and/or facets of curriculum planning). Disability Services Academic Accommodations Students with a documented disability who wish to request academic accommodations must contact Disability Services to discuss accommodation requests and eligibility requirements. Once successfully registered, the student also must notify the course instructor that they wish to access accommodations in the course. Please contact Disability Services, located within the Student Success Center, at http://www.slu.edu/retention-and-academic-success/disability-services or 314.977.3484 to schedule an appointment. Confidentiality will be observed in all inquiries. Once approved, information about the student’s eligibility for academic accommodations will be shared with course instructors via email from Disability Services and viewed within Banner via the instructor’s course roster. Note: Students who do not have a documented disability but who think they may have one are encouraged to contact to Disability Services. Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics Page 3 Title IX Saint Louis University and its faculty are committed to supporting our students and seeking an environment that is free of bias, discrimination, and harassment. If you have encountered any form of sexual misconduct (e.g. sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, domestic or dating violence), we encourage you to report this to the University. If you speak with a faculty member about an incident of misconduct, that faculty member must notify SLU’s Title IX coordinator, Anna R. Kratky (DuBourg Hall, room 36;[email protected]; 314-977-3886) and share the basic facts of your experience with her. The Title IX coordinator will then be available to assist you in understanding all of your options and in connecting you with all possible resources on and off campus. If you wish to speak with a confidential source, you may contact the counselors at the University Counseling Center at 314-977-TALK. To view SLU’s sexual misconduct policy and for resources, please visit the following web addresses: http://www.slu.edu/general-counsel-home/office-of-institutional-equity-and-diversity/sexual-misconduct- policy www.slu.edu/here4you . Academic Integrity Academic integrity is honest, truthful and responsible conduct in all academic endeavors. The mission of Saint Louis University is "the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and for the service of humanity." Accordingly, all acts of falsehood demean and compromise the corporate endeavors of teaching, research, health care, and community service via which SLU embodies its mission. The University strives to prepare students for lives of personal and professional integrity, and therefore regards all breaches of academic integrity as matters of serious concern. The governing University-level Academic Integrity Policy was adopted in Spring 2015, and can be accessed on the Provost's Office website at: http://www.slu.edu/Documents/provost/academic_affairs/University- wide%20Academic%20Integrity%20Policy%20FINAL%20%206-26-15.pdf. Additionally, each SLU College, School, and Center has adopted its own academic integrity policies, available on their respective websites. All SLU students are expected to know and abide by these policies, which detail definitions of violations, processes for reporting violations, sanctions, and appeals. Please direct questions about any facet of academic integrity to your faculty, the chair of the department of your academic program, or the Dean/Director of the College, School or Center in which your program is housed. College of Arts and Science Academic Integrity Information The University is a community of learning, whose effectiveness requires an environment of mutual trust and integrity. Academic integrity is violated by any dishonesty such as soliciting, receiving, or providing any unauthorized assistance in the completion of work submitted toward academic credit. While not all forms of academic dishonesty can be listed here, examples include copying from another student, copying from a book or class notes during a closed book exam, submitting materials authored by or revised by another person as the student’s own work, copying a passage or text directly from a published source without appropriately citing or recognizing that source, taking a test or doing an assignment or other academic work for another student, securing or supplying in advance a copy of an examination or quiz without the knowledge or consent of the