Unit IV: Russia

Key Concepts:
Russian traditions of autocracy, Lenin' s theory of the vanguard party, the soviet system, Gorbachev's reforms (glasnost, perestroika), democratization, market economy transition

Objectives:

To understand:
  1. the geography of the former USSR, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Russian Federation.
  2. the impact of history on Russia' s political culture.
  3. how Lenin's theories built on Marx's ideas.
  4. how the Communist Party maintained control of the Soviet Union.
  5. how the transition from a soviet system to democracy evolved.
  6. what role Boris Yeltsin has played as President.
  7. how the Russian constitution imitates features of the French Fifth Republic, especially a strong president.
  8. how Russians have formed a multiparty system and how they vote.
  9. how transitional economic policies have affected Russian society.
  10. what Russians currently think about their political system.
  11. the challenges ahead for Russia and for President Putin