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Russian Politics and Foreign Policy

Subjects of inquiry include: the changing political system; the problems of implementing economic reform; the rise of the national and democratic movements; the status of the armed forces, security and intelligence agencies; continuities and changes in the political culture, institutions and habits of mind; and changes in foreign policy, including relations with the newly independent post-Soviet states.

The essential focus of this course is to fathom the causes and consequences of the disintegration of the communist system, and to examine the political, ideological, and economic changes in post-Soviet Russia. Subjects of inquiry include: the changing political system; the problems of implementing economic reform; the rise of the national and democratic movements; the status of the armed forces, security, and intelligence agencies; continuities and changes in the political culture, institutions, and habits of mind; and changes in foreign policy, especially towards the United States.

Semester Available


Spring Semester

Part of


  One Area-Study Course (Required)
  Choose Two of the Following Courses
  Choose One of the Following Courses
  Choose One of the Following Courses
  Area-Study Course (select one)
  Area-Study Course (select one)
  Choose One of the Following Courses
  One Area-Study Course (Required)
  Specialization in Democracy Building
  Specialization in Comparative Political Culture
  Specialization in International Politics
  Specialization in American Foreign Policy

Related Courses


  Nationalism and Islamism

Principal Professor


   Marek Jan Chodakiewicz
Professor of History, The Kościuszko Chair in Polish Studies {read more}
   John Lenczowski
Founder and President, The Institute of World Politics {read more}

History of American Foreign Policy

This course surveys the record of American foreign policy from the beginnings to the present day, including the war on terrorism and speculations on the future of world order. Each section will discuss the thematic features which characterized foreign policy for succeeding time periods, including separate assessments of how policy met expectations and how it served national interests.

Principal Professor

  John J. Tierney, Jr.

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