Course syllabus

Kremlin Cyberpunk style

 

Welcome to study "Post-Soviet Russian Society, 10 credits, at Dalarna University! 

Upon completing the course, you will be able to:

  • demonstrate basic knowledge of post-Soviet Russian history and social structure
  • give an account of significant political and economic changes in Russian society from 1991 to the present
  • explain significant phenomena in contemporary Russian society, such as censorship, the structure of the media and political structures
  • demonstrate basic knowledge of the social structure of contemporary Russian society
  • discuss notions of Russian identity.

Note, that we have no physical meetings in Falun, the course is completely web-based with obligatory online seminars in real time. If this is your first time taking such a kind of course at our university, you might find the following information helpful: "Study online".

The rollcall takes place via Zoom on Wednesday, March 11, at 16:30. The link to the Zoom-meeting is available below.

For participation in the seminars, you will need a headset with a microphone and a web-camera. Note, that it is compulsory to use a webcam during online meetings. Please, check if your equipment is functioning properly before each seminar. If you have any problems, contact  Supportcafé in Zoom.

Time: The seminars will take place on Wednesdays at 16:30 - 18:00. For the detailed timetable see below.

The attendance is obligatory, and for the seminars to fulfill their purpose, everyone is expected to come to the meeting having done the assigned homework. Please, note that English is used as the language of instruction/discussions.

Teacher and course supervisor: Nikita Mikhaylov, Ph. D., nmi@du.se

Course literature:

- Sakwa, R. (2021). Russian politics and society (Fifth edition). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN: 9780415538466

- Digital material for 7 seminars, comprising approximately 300 p., available under "Modules".

 

Course syllabus at du.se

Kursplan på du.se

 

Timetable VT26

Wednesdays, 16:30 - 18:00 (CET), weeks 11 - 23

Zoom meeting: https://du-se.zoom.us/j/67463456776

 

Date

Topic & Homework

w. 11

11.03.2026

Rollcall

Introduction to the course.

w. 12

18.03.2026

Seminar 1. Perestroika, the dissolution of the USSR and the wild 1990s

w. 13

25.03.2026

Seminar 2. Russian political system. Putin’s Russia

 w. 15

08.04.2026

Seminar 3. The post-Soviet Russian identity

w. 17

22.04.2026

Seminar 4. Contemporary Russian society: The moods, the trends, the key problems

w. 18

29.04.2026

Seminar 5. Russian mass media in post-Soviet times

w. 20

13.05.2026 

Seminar 6. Russia's domestic policy

w. 21

20.05.2026

Seminar 7. Russia's foreign policy

w. 23

01.06.2026

Deadline for submission: Final essay

NB! Monday, 23:59