HIST 204C: Readings in Soviet History

Don Raleigh

History 204C is designed to prepare students for MA and PhD fields (major and minor) in Soviet history, 1917-present. Apart from familiarizing you with Western, Soviet, and post-Soviet literature on the most important issues in Soviet history, this course will consider the limitations of historical scholarship and discuss areas in need of further research. Each week students will read an article or two in common. In addition, students will report on a book that they have selected from the core bibliography. Students enrolled in the colloquium will be divided into two teams. During the second class meeting, Team "A" will make oral presentations on the books they have chosen and Team "B" will submit written reports that same week. The roles will be reversed the following week and the cycle will continue throughout the semester.

Topics to be discussed during the semester include:

World War I and the collapse of the autocracy

The October Revolution

Soviet power during the Civil War and foreign intervention

The USSR during NEP and the rise of Stalin

The Stalin Revolution

The Stalinist political and social order

The Great Terror

Soviet Russia at war

Postwar Stalinism and Cold War

The Khrushchev Thaw

Soviet society and politics since Stalin

Reconsidering "stagnation": The Brezhnev era

Engendering Soviet history

The nationalities question

Gorbachev, glasnost' and perestroika

Grading will be based on the following formula:

Oral reports: 40%

Written reports 40%

Participation 20%