International Relations in the Post-Soviet Sphere 2751-KONJA-IRPSS

1. Post-Soviet republics (FSU) - an introduction. Geopolitics of the FSU; the legacy of the region (Soviet, Russian, Osman, Persian, ect.); diversity of the FSU: ethnic, religious, cultural, political.
2. Russia - FSU as the Russian sphere of interest and influence. Competition with great powers over post-Soviet republics - the U.S, the EU, China, Turkey, Iran, Israel.
3. Ukraine - conflict with Russia. Peace process - Ukraine in a great politics. Transformation of Ukraine. Future scenarios for Ukraine - with the West or politically regained by Russia?
4. Belarus - mechanisms of the dependence on Russia. Instruments of balancing between Russia and the West. Key priorities of the Belorussian foreign politics. Future scenarios for Belarus.
5. The Southern Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan). Sphere of the competition between Russia and the West. Frozen conflicts. Energy resources in the region. Social, ethnic and religious factors. Transformation of the South Caucasus republics. The future scenarios.
6. The Central Asia - a part of rivalry between China and Russia. Security threats from neighboring Afghanistan - fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism in the region. Struggle for the leadership among the CA republics.

Term 2022/23Z:

Total student workload

Total student workload: 125 hours (5 ECTS) 1. Contact with the lecturer: 30 hours. 2. Independent work: a) Preparation for classes (research, searching for information on the current state of politics in the post-Soviet space) – 30 hours. b) Preparation for classes - video materials (documentaries, podcasts) - 30 hours. c) Preparation for classes - briefings and simulation games - 10 hours. d) Preparation for a discussion on a book addressing the politics of the former Soviet republics (25 hours).

Learning outcomes - knowledge

In terms of knowledge: After this course, students should have: 1. Firm understanding of the literature on FSU policy 2. Better awareness of FSU driving forces: political, economic, social, religious, ethical, military, etc. 3. Comprehensive understanding of the main problems of the FSU politics. 4. Knowledge about FSU in international relations.

Learning outcomes - skills

In terms of skills, students should have: 1. Ability to formulate opinions and justify them in relation to the subject matter. 2. Ability to critically analyze and evaluate issues in the post-Soviet space. 3. Ability to formulate in-depth statements on the subject matter. 4. Ability to participate in discourse on the subject matter.

Learning outcomes - social competencies

In terms of attitudes, students should have: 1. A greater appreciation of diverse policy views; 2. Greater confidence when discussing policy issues with their peers.

Teaching methods

1. In-class lectures; assigned readings; in-class exercises. 2. In-class discussion on the relationship between ongoing events and assigned readings. 3. Class discussions conducted by a student or student committee; production of charts and diagrams in class by a group of students. 4. In-class group exercises, stimulation of in-class discussions.

Exploratory teaching methods

- round table
- Oxford
- SWOT
- case study
- situational
- expert panels

Type of course

elective course

Prerequisites

No precondition.

Course coordinators

Agnieszka Bryc

Assessment criteria

1. Attendance and participation - 33%
2. Workshop on home reading and in-class discussions - 33%
3. Project or participation in a debate - 33%

Practical placement

Not applicable.

Bibliography

Zięba R. (ed.), Politics and Security of Central and Eastern Europe: Contemporary Challenges, Springer 2023.
Busygina I., Krivokhizh S. (eds.), Regional leadership in post-Soviet Eurasia: the strategies of Russia, China and the European Union, Routledge, 2023.
Hrytsak Y., Ukraine. The Forging of a Nation, Sphere 2023.
De Waal T., The Caucasus: An Introduction, Oxford University Press 2018.
Cornell E.S. (ed.), The Changing Geopolitics of Central Asia and the Caucasus, AFPC Press 2023.
Davidzon I., Regional security governance in post-Soviet Eurasia: the history and effectiveness of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Macmillan, 2021.
Yavuz M.H (ed.), The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Historical and Political Perspectives, Routledge 2024.
Hansbury P., Belarus in Crisis: From Domestic Unrest to the Russia-Ukraine War, C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd 2023.

Optional literature
Plokhy S., Lost Kingdom: A History of Russian Nationalism from Ivan the Great to Vladimir Putin, Penguin Books 2018.
Zubok V. M., Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union, Yale University Press 2021.
Galeotti M., Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine, Osprey Publishing 2024.
Etkind A., Internal Colonization: Russia's Imperial Experience, Polity Press 2011.
Politkovska A. , A Dirty War: A Russian Reporter in Chechnya, Vintage Publishing 2001.

Term 2022/23Z:

POST-SOVIET POLITICAL ORDER. Conflict and State Building, ed. by Barnett R.Rubin and Jack Snyder, Routledge 2012.
The Routledge Atlas of Central Eurasian Affairs, Routledge 2012.
Radical Islam in the Former Soviet Union, Ed. by Galina Yemelianova, Routledge 2010.
Identity and Politics in Central Asia and the Caucasus, ed. by Mohammed Ayoob and Murad Ismayilov, Routledge 2015.
Rajan Menon and Eugene Rumer, Conflict in Ukraine. The Unwinding of the Post–Cold War Order, MIT 2015.
Key Players and Regional Dynamics in Eurasia. The Return of the ‘Great Game’, ed. By Maria Raquel Freire and Roger E. Kanet, Palgrave 2010.
Julia Gerlach, Color Revolutions in Eurasia, Springer 2014.
Józef Lang, The Radical Islamic Militants of Central Asia, OSW REPORT, 2013.
Maciej Falkowski, The ‘Tribal Areas’ of the Caucasus. The North Caucasus – an enclave of ‘alien civilisation’ within the Russian Federation, OSW STUDIES, 2010.
Kamil Kłysiński, Piotr Żochowski, The End Of The Myth of a brotherly Belarus? Russian soft power in Belarus after 2014: the background and its manifestations, OSW STUDIES, 2016.
Sławomir Matuszak, The oligarchic democracy. The influence of business groups on Ukrainian politics, OSW STUDIES, 2012.
Tadeusz A. Olszański, The language issue in Ukraine. An attempt at a new perspective, OSW STUDIES, 2012.
Maciej Falkowski, Georgian drift. The crisis of Georgia's way westwards, POINT OF VIEW, 2016.
Yearbook of the Institute of East-Central Europe 14 (2016), The European Neighbourhood Policy: FDI, democratization, prospects (Vol. 14, No. 6, 2016).
Burghart D.; Sabonis-Helf T. (eds.), Central Asia in the Era of Sovereignty: The Return of Tamerlane?, Lexington Books 2018.
Sayapin S., Tsybulenko E., (eds.), The Use of Force against Ukraine and International Law: Jus Ad Bellum, Jus In Bello, Jus Post Bellum, T.M.C. Asser Press 2018.
Simão L., The EU’s Neighbourhood Policy towards the South Caucasus: Expanding the European Security Community, Palgrave Macmillan 2018.

Term 2023/24Z:

Optional:
Plokhy S., Lost Kingdom: A History of Russian Nationalism from Ivan the Great to Vladimir Putin, Penguin Books 2018.
Zubok V. M., Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union, Yale University Press 2021.
Galeotti M., Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine, Osprey Publishing 2024.
Etkind A., Internal Colonization: Russia's Imperial Experience, Polity Press 2011.
Politkovska A. , A Dirty War: A Russian Reporter in Chechnya, Vintage Publishing 2001.

Term 2024/25Z:

Term 2025/26Z:

Notes

Term 2022/23Z:

No remarks.

Term 2023/24Z:

No remarks.

Term 2024/25Z:

No remarks.

Term 2025/26Z:

No remarks.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2751-KONJA-IRPSS in USOSweb