HIST 204D: Topics in Russian History

Donald J. Raleigh

History 204D is designed as a capstone course for the Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies' interdisciplinary MA program in Russian and East European Studies. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to some of the most important issues in modern Russian and East European history in order to provide a common base of knowledge that can be used in developing individualized courses of study. Moreover, History 204D is appropriate for graduate students in the History Department and in other programs for whom it can likewise serve as an introduction to the field. In selecting the readings (approximately fourteen books to be read in common), I opted for works that not only address critical issues in the history of this part of the world, but are also of value from a methodological or interpretive perspective.