Seminar in Soviet History
STALIN AND STALINISM
SPRING 2011
CAPSTONE SEMINAR: EUROPEAN
HIST-48106-01
CRN 42670
Zenon V. Wasyliw
Professor, Department of History, Ithaca College
wasyliw@ithaca.edu
http://faculty.ithaca.edu/wasyliw
Muller 427 and CHS 411
Office hours:
in CHS 411:
Monday 1-2:00
Wed. 12-3:00
Fri. 11-12:00
in Muller 427:
Wed. 10-11:00
By appointment other times and days
Phone – 274-3645, 3303 and 1587
Introduction
Stalin officially ruled the USSR from 1928 – 1953. His impact and influence span a much wider period of time. Stalin was a member of the Bolshevik party prior to the Russian Revolution and was a presence during the revolutions of 1917 and throughout the civil war. He became General Secretary of the Communist Party during the NEP Era of Soviet history, 1921-1928 and was also in charge of nationalities policies for the multinational USSR. This position and his political maneuverings enabled Stalin to gain the upper-hand during the succession struggles after Lenin’s death in 1924 and to become the absolute ruler of the USSR in 1928. He declared that it was time to build “socialism in one country” and put an end to any moderate policies and any ideas of immediate world revolution. Stalin moved the Soviet Union to a command economy with the introduction of a five year economic plan focused on rapid industrialization and forced agricultural collectivization that took millions of lives. Stalin’s economic policies left a mixed legacy on the everyday lives of Soviet citizens yet also became a model for future Marxist revolutionary states such as China, Cuba and many others as Stalin supported global revolutions at the end of World War II. The political system Stalin established is often referred to as Stalinism. The term Stalinism is widely interpreted but most commonly refers to Stalin’s system of absolute political control through the establishment of a personality cult buttressed by political and economic centralization under an autocratic ruler, the extensive use of propaganda, bureaucratic collectivism, a repressive secret police and brutal penal system. Historians vary widely in their interpretations of Stalinism and the level of Stalinist control and repression.
This seminar evaluates the dynamics of Stalinist political, intellectual, cultural, economic, international and social state policies. We will assess varied historical interpretations of the aforementioned developments and also examine Stalin’s personal biography, development and inner circle through a semester long reading of the award winning book by Montefiore, Stalin. The Court of the Red Tsar. This upper-level history seminar emphasizes a closer examination of the era and areas under study through weekly intensive discussions of assigned readings and the completion of an extended carefully conceptualized, researched and properly cited paper.
Capstone
This seminar is a capstone experience in fulfilling the requirements of the history, social studies teaching, social studies majors and history minor. It is offered at the senior level to students who have completed substantially requirements of the major or minor as a culmination of a sequence of courses. The seminar reflects and builds upon those courses and connects to the following core attributes – communication skills, competence, critical thinking, global citizenship, life long learning and personal development. The capstone seminar culminates with the synthesizing experience of carefully researching and writing a twenty-five page paper. This critically evaluated research paper is central to the completion of the major and degree.
Books
Cohen, Stephen. The Victims Return: Survivors of the Gulag After Stalin.
Fitzpatrick, Sheila. Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times.
Getty, J. Arch. The Road to Terror: Stalin and the Self-Destruction of the Bolsheviks, 1932-1939.
Kuznetsov, A. Anatolii. Babi Yar: A Document in the Form of a Novel.
Martin, Terry. The Affirmative Action Empire.
Montefiore, Simon Sebag. Stalin. The Court of the Red Tsar.
Naimark, Norman. Stalin’s Genocides.
Tzouliadis, Tim. The Forsaken: An American Tragedy in Stalin’s Russia.
Viola, Lynne. The Unknown Gulag: Lost World of Stalin’s Special Settlements.
Recommended:
“Seventeen Moments in Soviet History,” http://www.soviethistory.org
McCauley, Martin. Stalin and Stalinism. This was assigned for the Rise and Fall of the USSR course and is helpful for background and analysis.
Benjamin, Jules. A Student’s Guide to History
The Guide is also found on-line:
http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/history/benjamin
A detailed list of other related websites and other media sources will be distributed as the semester commences.
Requirements
1. “Students at Ithaca College are expected to attend all classes and they are responsible for work missed during any absence from class…Students should notify their instructor as soon as possible of any anticipated absences.” (Ithaca College Undergraduate Catalog, 2010-2011). Because the Seminar meets only once a week, perfect attendance is expected of all students. Everyone should complete all assignments and be prepared for seminar discussions and presentations.
2. Seminar participants are significantly graded on their participation. Students must arrive with a one page outline/summary of the assigned readings for the week as a guide for discussion and to assure that the assignment has been completed.
3. Students must review relevant primary source materials found on the website – http://www.soviethistory.org related to the seminar topic for the week and for their research paper.
4. Seminar participants must write a twenty five page research paper to fulfill the Department of History senior capstone requirement noted above. Graduate and professional programs often require the submission of a significant research paper as part of the admission process. Specific writing and research stages are carefully assigned in the Topics and Assignments section of this syllabus. All papers must follow the University of Chicago or Turabian format. Jules Benjamin’s A Student’s Guide to History is a very helpful source for writing research papers. All sources must be properly documented. Carefully read the Ithaca College Standards of Academic Conduct found at the following Student Policies link:
http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70104.htm
5. Please check my Rise and Fall of the USSR syllabus, both hard copy and on-line for additional historical background information, sources and relevant websites – /wasyliw/USSR
6. We shall visit Olin Library at Cornell University to become acquainted with resources and access additional research materials.
7. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disability Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Students must register with the Office of Academic Services and provide appropriate documentation to the College before any academic adjustment will be provided.
8. I am serving as Interim Director of the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute and will often use the ICGI office in CHS 411. My office hours in CHS 411 are Monday 1-2:00, Wednesday 12-3:00, Friday 11-12:00, in Muller 427 Wednesday 10-11:00 and by appointment other times and days. I am often available at varied times and will readily accommodate appointments arranged by e-mail. I may be reached at 274-1587 but most readily by e-mail: wasyliw@ithaca.edu. Please stop by my office in either CHS 411 or Muller 427 to discuss course material or life in general.
9. The syllabus outline, topics and assignments are subject to change.
TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Seminar Date:
Jan. 25
1. Historical introduction and overview of seminar requirements.
A historical background on the Russian Revolution, Civil War and the NEP years. Ithaca College Library visit.
Assignment for this seminar session – Review Stalin and Stalinism and http://www.soviethistory.org for background information
Assignment for our next seminar session - Read Montefiore, Stalin: The Court of the Red Star, pp. xix-104 and Martin, Affirmative Action Empire, pp.1-204
Feb. 1
2. A sociocultural linguistic discourse: identity in the multinational USSR - Stalin, “national in form, socialist in content” as nationalities policy. Discussion of Martin
The Stalinist Revolution - a historical review of the rise of Stalin into power, the Five Year Plan and the evolution of Stalinism. Discussion of Montefiore
Assignment Continue reading Montefiore, pp. 107-147
Read Martin, pp. 209-309
Begin reading Viola, The Unknown Gulag
Feb. 8
3. What does it mean to be internationalist? National Communism and the return of centralized Kremlin authority. Discussion of Martin
The Stalinist policy of agricultural collectivization – resistance, results and consequences – Was agricultural collectivization a necessary component of Stalinism? Discussion of Viola and Montefiore
Assignment: Begin reading Fitzpatrick, Everyday Stalinism
Read Montefiore, pp. 151-198
Read Martin, pp. 309-461
Feb. 15
4. Stalin’s inner circle, revised nationalities policy with Russian nationalist ascendency, the realities of collectivization and the rise of political terror.
Continue discussion of the Viola and Montefiore books.
Selection and presentation of research topics and theses
Assignment - Finish reading Fitzpatrick, Everyday Stalinism…
Feb. 22
Everyday life beyond the gulags and collective farms – did Stalinist domestic policies offer any benefits to Soviet citizens in urban social, economic and cultural life - discussion of Everyday Stalinism
Progress reports on research projects
Assignment - Read Getty, The Road To Terror
Prepare for our next seminar a thesis, paragraph summary, outline and initial bibliography for the research paper.
March 1
6. What do historical sources tell us and might there still be missing pieces in assessing the past? Discussion of The Road to Terror and related primary source documents.
Research paper thesis, paragraph summary outline and initial bibliography are due
Assignment - Read Tzouliadis, The Forsaken: An American Tragedy in Stalin’s Russia, pp. 1-172.
Read Montefiore, pp. 201-267
March 8
7. What were U.S. connections with Stalinism? How did Americans view Stalin and the USSR? Discussion of Tsouliadis and the Montefiore assigned section
Assignment: Finish reading Tsouliadis, pp. 173-end and begin reading My Dear Mr. Stalin…
Read Montefiore, pp. 271-366
March 15
8. SPRING BREAK
Assignment - Finish reading Tsouliadis
Read Montefiore, pp. 271-366
Compile an extended research paper bibliography and begin a rough draft of
your research paper. Write at least ten pages.
March 22
9. Finish discussion of Tsouliadis and continue discussion of Montefiore
Research paper bibliography and rough draft is due along with research paper progress reports. Continue writing and revising rough drafts.
Assignment - Read Naimark, Stalin’s Genocides
Read Montefiore, pp. 369-497
March 29
10. Did Stalin commit genocide and can comparisons be made with Hitler’s Nazi Germany
Discussion of Naimark
Assignment – Read Kuznetsov, Babi Yar
Read Stalin and Roosevelt correspondence handouts
April 5
11. How valuable are historical novels in assessing the past and constructing memory - an assessment of World War II – human tragedy and memory. Continued discussion of the Kuznetsov and Montefiore books,
Submission of research paper rough draft - scheduling of individual meetings
Begin reading Cohen for April 26
April 12
12. Soviet – US relations as reflected in the correspondence between Stalin and Roosevelt and the evolution of the Cold War. Discussion of related themes in the Montefiore book
Presentation and discussion of research papers.
Assignment – Finish reading the Montefiore book, pp. 501-672
Complete a rough draft of your research paper with proper citations included
April 19
13. What role do biographies or focused studies of individual leaders play in assessing the Stalinist past? Stalin’s last years and an appraisal of Stalinism and Stalin’s legacy based on the Montefiore biography.
Discussion of Montefiore. Begin Research Paper Presentations and Discussions
Assignment – Finish reading Cohen, The Victims Return
Assignment - Complete final draft of research paper.
April 26
13. Let History Judge - Victims, Perpetrators, Memory and Narrative. The construction of memory: how should Stalin and Stalinism be remembered? Discussion of Cohen’s The Victims Return: Survivors of the Gulag After Stalin.
Assignment - Complete Research Papers.
Finish reading the Montefiore book, pp. 501-672
May 3
15. Extended Research Paper Presentations and Discussions
May 9-13
16. Final Examination Week
Submission and discussion of fully completed research paper during officially designated examination time.