Seminar in Soviet History

THE USSR: STALIN, STALINISM AND BEYOND

 

SEMINAR

HIST-48100-01

 

Zenon V. Wasyliw                                                                                      Spring 2007

Muller 427                                                                                                 History Department        

Ithaca College                                                                                            Office Hours:

274-1587                                                                                                  MWF 1:30 – 3:00

wasyliw@ithaca.edu                                                                                   By appointment other 

http://faculty.ithaca.edu/wasyliw                                                                 times and days

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.  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, cultural, economic, international and social state policies. We will assess varied historical interpretations of the aforementioned developments and 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.  Stalin’s relationship with the United States and specifically President Roosevelt during World War II along with his influence upon the Cold War between the two superpowers after the conclusion of the Second World War will also be critically reviewed.  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. 

Books 

Applebaum, Anne.  Gulag: A History.

Butler, Susan, editor, My Dear Mr. Stalin: The Complete Correspondence of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph V. 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.

Montefiore, Simon Sebag.  Stalin. The Court of the Red Tsar.

Reid, Anna.  Borderland: A Journey through the History of Ukraine.

Viola, Lynne.  Peasant Rebels under Stalin: Collectivization and the Culture of Peasant Resistance.

Zubkov, Vladislav and Constantine Pleshakov.  Inside the Kremlin’s Cold War: From Stalin to Khrushchev.

http://www.soviethistory.org

Additional readings will be made available throughout the semester

Recommended:

Benjamin, Jules.  A Student’s Guide to History

The Guide is also found on-line:

http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/history/benjamin

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 CollegeUndergraduate Catalog, 2006-2007, pp. 295-296).  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 reading for the week as a guide for discussion and to assure that the assignment has been completed.  The Road to Terror group assignment will require a collaborative written assessment of primary source documents. 

3.  Students must review relevant materials found on the website – http://www.soviethistory.org related to the seminar topic for the week. 

4.  Seminar participants must write a twenty five page research paper.  Graduate programs often require the submission of a twenty five page 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 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 end of this syllabus and 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.

6.  We shall visit Olin Library at Cornell University on March 5.

7.  Dr.  Lynne Viola, Professor of History at the University of Toronto and author of one of our assigned books will give a Mayrock Memorial lecture on our campus Thursday, April 19 at 5:30.  The title of her talk is “The Unknown Gulag: Stalin’s Special Settlements.”

8.  Scheduled office hours are set for Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 1:30 – 3:00 and by appointment other times and days.  I may be reached at 274-1587 and most readily by e-mail: wasyliw@ithaca.edu.  Please stop by my office in Muller 427 to discuss course material or life in general.

9. The syllabus outline and assignments are subject to change.

TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Seminar Date:

Jan. 22

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 next meeting - Read Montefiore, Stalin: The Court of the Red Star, pp. xix-104.  Review for discussion a general historical overview of the USSR’s evolution under Stalin’s leadership and policies.

Jan. 29 

2. The Stalinist Revolution - a historical review of the Stalin era of Soviet history and the Five Year Plan.  Discussion of Montefiore

Assignment Continue reading Montefiore, pp. 107-147

Read Viola, Peasant Rebels under Stalin

Feb. 5

3. The Stalinist policy of agricultural collectivization – resistance, results and consequences. Discussion of Viola and Montefiore

Assignment: Begin reading Fitzpatrick, Everyday Stalinism               

Montefiore, pp. 151-198

Feb. 12

4. Stalin’s inner circle, the rise of political terror and the realities of collectivization.

Continue discussion of the Viola and Montefiore books.

Selection and presentation of research topics and theses

Assignment - Finish reading Fitzpatrick, Everyday Stalinism…

Feb. 19

5. Urban social and cultural life - discussion of Everyday Stalinism

Progress reports on research projects

Assignment - Read Getty, The Road To Terror - assigned groups of students will evaluate select primary source documents.  Also, write a thesis, paragraph summary and outline for the research paper.

Feb. 26

6. Discussion of The Road to Terror primary source documents and the Stalin Era.

Research paper thesis, paragraph summary and outline are due

Introduction to the Gulag prison and punishment system

Assignment - Begin reading Applebaum, Gulag: A History

Read Montefiore, pp. 201-267

March 5

7. We will meet at Olin Library, Cornell University

Begin a discussion of Gulag and continue discussing Montefiore

Assignment - Finish reading Gulag

Read Montefiore, pp. 271-366

Compile a research paper bibliography and begin a rough draft

March 12

8. SPRING BREAK

Assignment: Finish reading Gulag and begin reading My Dear Mr. Stalin…

Read Montefiore, pp. 271-366

Complete your research paper bibliography.

March 19

9. Finish discussion of Gulag and continue discussion of Montefiore

Research paper bibliography is due along with research paper progress reports.  Seminar members should be writing rough drafts.

Assignment - Read Dear Mr. Stalin

Read Montefiore, pp. 369-497

March 26

10. An introduction to and assessment of World War II.  Soviet – US relations as reflected in the correspondence between Stalin and Roosevelt.  A discussion of My Dear Mr. Stalin

Assignment – Read Zubkov and Pleshakov, Inside the Kremlin’s Cold War: From Stalin to Khrushchev.

April 2

11. From allies to superpower adversaries – the Cold War and international relations.  Discussion of Inside the Kremlin’s Cold War…

Assignment – Read from Orlando Figes, “Culture” in Natasha’s Dance

Complete writing a rough draft of your research paper with proper citations included

April 9

12. A cultural retrospective – the arts and culture under Stalin

Submission of research paper rough draft - scheduling of individual meetings

Assignment – Read Reed, Borderland. A Journey through the History of Ukraine

April 16

13. The Stalinist legacy on non-Russian nationalities – the case of Ukraine and Ukrainians

Assignment - Complete Research Papers.

Finish reading the Montefiore book, pp. 501-672

Prof. Lynne Viola, Mayrock Speaker, “The Unknown Gulag: Stalin’s Special Settlements.”

Thursday, April 19, 5:30.

April 23

14. Stalin’s last years and an appraisal of Stalinism and Stalin’s legacy

Discussion of Montefiore.  Begin Research Paper Presentations and Discussions

Assignment - Complete final draft of research paper.

April 30

15. Extended Research Paper Presentations and Discussions

May 7

16. Final Examination Week

Submission and discussion of fully completed research paper during officially designated examination time.