Course lectures, discussions, readings, and case studies will explore the hypothesis that there is not just one road toward democracy and market economic systems beyond the previous political monopoly of the Communist Party. Although a strong focus will be the Russian heartland, there will be considerable attention paid to the Ukrainian, Caucasian, Baltic, and Central Asian alternative "models" that have developed in a few short years.

The course will also set a foundation in the period of Soviet and communist rule, not just because of its historical importance but because it has continued to shape much of the political systems that have succeeded it. Many of the prominent leaders, such as Yeltsin, Kravchuk, Nazarbayev, and Brazauskas, are former communists. The Communist Party has returned as a major force in many of the states, especially in local politics. The bulk of economic activity in all 15 states is still concentrated in state hands, and although the union has disappeared, Russia remains the dominant actor within the territory it had formerly occupied. As compared with Eastern Europe after 1989, this area further to the east has much less clearly seen the overthrow of a system and its replacement by multiparty capitalism--not surprisingly perhaps because the Soviet system had not originally been an external imposition.

The course, finally, will attempt to render some preliminary judgments possible as to which of the Soviet successor states will most likely make the transition to pluralist and market economy systems most rapidly and successfully, and to consequent integration into the world economy and international political system.

Joseph L. Nogee and R. Judson Mitchell, Russian Politics: The Struggle for a New Order (Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1997)
Graham Smith, The Nationalities Question in the Post-Soviet States, 2nd ed. (NY: Longman, 1996)
Reader: Contemporary Russian Politics, Economics and Foreign Policy
"Russia and Eurasia," Current History, October 1996
"The August Coup," Kennedy School of Government, Haarvard, Case Study, 1992
journal articles and handouts

Westerners approach the emergence of post-Communist societies with a mixture of confidence and incomprehension. Many parts of the transition process are likely to follow patterns with which we are relatively familiar. If the subject is de-monopolization of a manufacturing plant, for example, there is little uncertainty in the West that the ultimate goal--private enterprise in a market economy--is clear and that not much can go awry. The market's self-adjusting mechanisms will, after all, eventually encourage supply and demand to come into balance. Once they do, the market will reflect an environment very familiar to us.

In politics, by contrast, uncertainty about the process of creating new institutions-and even the end result--is far greater, with good reason. As analyst Stephen Sestanovich has remarked, "Success depends on cooperation among a much larger group of actors, the mechanisms of self-correction are much weaker and mistakes can be much more lasting." "Eastern Europe has already demonstrated both the promise and the concern: the political fragmentation that has followed the revolutions of 1989 are both necessary and desirable compared to the heavily over-centralized totalitarian state." But it can also make coherent government virtually impossible. Without parliamentary majorities able to deal with the difficulties of post-Communist society, popular dissatisfaction with the democratic experiment may quickly grow (and has). It is such political disarray that makes the economic transition from central planning to a market especially hard to manage. In turn, economic difficulties threaten to undermine the fragile legitimacy and stability of the new democratic experiments.

The student will also be expected to stay abreast of political events in Eastern Europe through the news media and class handouts, and to consult regularly articles and materials in some of the following journals:

Problems Of Post-Communism, Survey, Current History, East European Politics And Societies, The World Today, Foreign Affairs, Current Digest Of The Post-Soviet Press, Studies In Comparative Communism, Europe-Asia Studies, East European Reports, The Economist (London), Financial Times, Moscow News, Delovie Lyudi, and other periodicals.

Little Library also has available two weekly electronic Russian news reviews:
POLITICA WEEKLY PRESS REVIEW, ECONOMICA WEEKLY PRESS REVIEW

Information about on-line news sources will also be available at
the Interfax News Agency and
the Itar-TASS News Agency.

Students will be expected to complete all the required readings and to participate actively and regularly in class discussions, case studies, and simulation activities. Students will be examined on the readings, on class lectures and discussions, on handouts, and on current Russian/Post-Soviet affairs by means of a mid-term exam (25%) (tent: March 21) and a self-scheduled final examination (40%). Each student will also choose one particular country in the topic region in which to specialize, and on which to write a series of short briefing papers (3-4 pages each, 25%) (due Feb. 24, April 4, May 5) analyzing the current political, economic, and foreign policy agendas and strategies of the respective countries. The briefing papers will be designed to prepare the student to participate in several case study discussions and at least one policy oriented simulation. Finally, quizzes (announced or not) may be given to encourage the student to stay informed of current developments in Russia and post Soviet affairs, which together with class and discussion participation will constitute the remainder of the final grade (10%). (Any late papers will be lowered in grade by one letter grade per day. Computer excuses will not be accepted.)

I. Case Study I: Kremlinology Revisited: WhoŐs In Control?

Case Study II: Crisis in Chechnya (Meaning and Questions to Ask)

II. Introduction: From Communism to Democracy?
A. Russia's Two Revolutions?
B. A Presidential Republic?
C. Citizens or Subjects?
(Handouts; Rachel Walker, "RussiaŐs Two Revolutions;" CH Tolz, Kagarlitsky; R Gregory)

III. From Old Order to New Order
A. The Post-Stalinist Political Settlement
B. Principles of Soviet Government
C. Decline of the "Settlement"
D. Brezhnevism: "Era of Stagnation"
E. The Gorbachev Agenda
(Nogee ch. 1-3)

IV. Russia, Communism, Democracy
A. The Russian Tradition
B. Old Legacies, New Challenges
C. Russian Political Culture
(Nogee ch. 8; R Scanlan; Adams; CH Knight)

V. Yeltsin and the Russian Presidency
A. The Failed Coup: August 1991
B. End of the Soviet Union
C. The Political Executive: Soviet and Russian
D. YeltsinŐs Imprint
E. System-Building Amidst Political Uncertainty
(Nogee ch. 4-5; "The August Coup," Case Study)

VI. Parties and the Party System
A. Legacy of Communist Party Rule
B. Emergence of Parties and Pluralism
C. Party Orientations and Politics
(R Hahn; Brovkin; Quist

VII. The Economy: Rocky Road from Plan to Market
A.The Centrally Planned Economy
B. Perestroika: GorbachevŐs Reforms
C. The Struggle for Market Reforms
D. The Decision to Launch Shock Therapy
E. Five Years On: Judgment Suspended
(R Mieszkowski and Soligo; Khotin; CH Rutland)

VIII. Privatization: The Heart of Reform
A. From Destatization to Privatization
B. First Steps: Managerial Revolution
C. Privatization and the Struggle for Power
D. Reform Prospects and Experience
(R Basora )

IX. The Politics of Foreign Policy
A. Policy and Policy-Making
B. Executive Control/Parliamentary Contest
C. Debates and Doctrines/Personnel Changes
D. Outstanding Issues
(Nogee ch 7; CH Dawisha; Smith-ch 1-2)

X. Nationality and Ethnicity in Russia and the Post-Soviet Republics
A. USSR and Disintegration
B. Soviet Nationalities Policy
C. Ethnopolitics in the Post-Soviet Era I: "The Near Abroad"
D. II: Ethnopolitics in the Russian Federation
(Smith ch 3-6)

XI. The Post-Soviet Republics
A. Legacies of History
B. Impact of Religion & Political Culture
C. Ethnicity and National Identity
(Nogee ch 6)

XII. Post-Soviet Republics: Issues and Problems
A. The Impact of Economics and Development
B. Foreign Policies: Re-Union ?
C. Military and Security Issues
( Smith ch 24)

XIII. Ukraine and Belarus
A. Nationalism and Political Culture
B. Economic Decline/Renewal
C. The Nuclear Issue
(Smith ch 10-12, 21-23; CVH Markus)

XIV. The Baltic Republics and Transcaucasia
A. From Dependence to Independence
B. Economic Issues
C. Citizenship and Minority Rights
(Smith ch 7-9, 13-15)

XV. Central Asia and the Caucasian Republics
A. Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
B. Civil and Interrepublican Conflict
C. Russia and Security in the "Near Abroad"
D. Return to Grozny: Chechen "Perspectives" and the New Russia
(Smith, 16-20)