USSR

 

RISE AND FALL OF THE USSR

Spring 2009

HIST 22200-01

Tuesday and Thursday, 1:10-2:25, Friends 203

Ithaca College

 

Zenon V. Wasyliw, Professor and Chairperson, Department of History                                                                                                                                                                      

Muller 427, 274-1587, wasyliw@ithaca.edu

Office Hours: MW 1:00-2:00, TTh, 9:30-10:30 and by appointment other times and days

http://faculty.ithaca.edu/wasyliw                                                       

 

INTRODUCTION

The rise and fall of the USSR heavily influenced world history in the twentieth century. The United States in particular reacted strongly to the Soviet Union’s alternative competitive model for the future. The fall of communist political leadership in 1991 calls for a reappraisal of this region’s Soviet past. This part of the world remains critical in the evolution of the twenty first century as the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union develop new varied political models for the future and Russia re-asserts its claim to global power and influence under Putin’s leadership. Historical legacies from the Soviet period are prominent in shaping the face of contemporary Russia, the independent states of the former Soviet Union and western attitudes. This course is a survey of Soviet history. We begin with pre-revolutionary conditions at the turn of the century, appraise the 1917 revolutions and then proceed through the varied stages, policies, leaders and both their internal and global impact through 1991 and beyond as outlined in the topics section of this syllabus.  Stalin and Stalinism receive special attention.  

 

An interdisciplinary approach is the foundation of analysis and critical appraisal. Political, intellectual, social, cultural, economic and other modes of evaluation are implemented.  The study of Soviet history might be complex yet it is also extremely fascinating. We will engage in an interesting journey and evaluation of the Soviet past and its influence on the present and future.

 

BOOKS

The following books are required for the course and may be purchased at the college bokstore.

 

Dolot, Miron. Execution by Hunger: The Hidden Holocaust

Husband, William B. The Human Tradition in Modern Russia

Marples, David. Motherland. Russia in the Twentieth Century

Kuznetsov, Anatolii. Babi Yar

McCauley, Martin. Stalin and Stalinism

Raleigh, Donald. editor, Russia’s Sputnik Generation

 “Seventeen Moments in Soviet History” – http://www.soviethistory.org

This impressive website contains a variety of valuable resources. Specific assignments from this site are listed in the “Topics and Reading Assignments” section of this syllabus under the heading soviethistory.org. Please register on the site’s homepage to gain full access.

Benjamin, Jules. A Student’s Guide to History – is available in hard copy and also found online at - http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/history/benjamin

 

Supplemental primary sources and handouts will also be distributed and additional relevant library holdings will be referenced. 

 

LINKS

 

General Sites

Soviet History: http://www.soviethistory.org

History Central: http://vlib.iue.it/history/index.html#vlsearch  

Russian and East European Network Information Center: http://reenic.utexas.edu

Russia on the Web: http://www.valley.net/~transnat/#Welcome

Tsarist Russia: http://www.alexanderpalace.org

Ukrainian: http://www.ukrainianstudies.org

Ukraine: http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com

Georgia: http://www.georgiadaily.com

Qazaqstan (Kazakhstan): http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/53/index-b.html

 

History

Rasputin: http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/rasputinreport.html

Marxism: http://marxists.org/glossary

Russian Revolution: http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/russ/rusrev.html

Guide to Russian Revolution: http://www.geocities.com/sheerin104

Lenin: http://www.stel.ru/museum also click on “mausoleum” at bottom

Stalin: http://www.stel.ru/stalin

Historical Documents: http://www.uea.ac.uk/his/webcours/russia/documents

Historical Documents: http://artsci.shu.edu/reesp/documents

Ukrainian Famine: http://www.infoukes.com/history/famine

http://www.holodomor.org

Gulag: http://www.osa.ceu.hu/gulag/index.html

Stalinist Repression: http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/gulag.html

Holocaust: http://www.ushmm.org

Cold War: http://www.wilsoncenter.org find “Cold War International History Project”

Cold War Studies at Harvard University: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws

Current Russian News: http://www.interfax.ru click on “English version”

 

Non-Russian Peoples

 

Central Asia: http://centasia.fas.harvard.edu  

Armenia: http://www.armenian-genocide.org

Ukraine: http://www.brama.com

History of Jews in Russia: http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/beyond-the-pale

National embassy pages - e.g. http://kgembassy.org  and/or

Country reports and history outlines found on http://news.bbc.co.uk

Kazakhstan: http://www.kazakhstan.org.sg

 

 

Building a Civil Society (or not)

 

Civil Society International: http://www.civilsoc.org

East-West Women: http://www.neww.org

Soros Foundation: http://www.soros.org

Orange Revolution in Ukraine: http://eng.maidanua.org

Coalition for Democracy in Russia: http://www.theotherrussia.org

Putin: http://premier.gov.ru/eng

Peaceful Revolution: http://www.aeinstein.org   

 

 

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 instructors as soon as possible of any anticipated absences.” (Ithaca College Undergraduate Catalog, 2007-2008). Absences will adversely affect the comprehension of course material and one’s grade. Students are expected to have read the assigned readings and participate in class discussion.

 

2. Each student will complete two interpretive essay examinations and a final                comprehensive examination.  The essays are conceptual in nature and test the students’ comprehension and analysis of material covered in class and assigned readings.

 

3. Each student will write two to three page critiques of the Dolot and Kuznetsov books.                  

 

The critique format:

I.    Introduction

II.   A brief historical context

III. A critical analysis of three major conceptual themes, not a narrative summary.

IV. Conclusion and assessment of worthiness

 

4. The writing of essays, critiques and papers follows specific criteria and all sources must be        properly documented. Carefully read the Ithaca College Standards of Academic Conduct found at the end of the syllabus and at the following Student Policies link –

http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70104.htm

 

5. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities 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.

 

6. The syllabus outline, topics and assignments are subject to change.

 

GRADES

All work must be completed to earn a passing grade!

 

First Examination                                         20%

Second Examination                                     20%

Two Book Critiques 10% each                       20%

Final Examination                                         30%

Qualitative Class Participation                        10%

                                                                100%

 

TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

 

Dates:

 

22 and 24 Jan.   1. Introduction. A Thousand Years of History: Major Themes and Issues. Economic Background and Social Conditions in late Imperial Russia and Challenges to Tsarist Rule. The Role of the Revolutionary Intelligentsia.  Legacies: the Burdens of Russian and Soviet History

Assignment: Marples, Motherland, Introduction and Chapter 1

Husband, The Human Tradition in Modern Russia, Chapters 1-3

 

27 and 29 Jan.   2. The Russo-Japanese War, Revolution of 1905, World War I and the Significance of Rasputin on the end of the Romanov Dynasty and the Rise of Revolutionary Russia in February of 1917. Dual Power in 1917: Constituent Assembly or “All Power to the Soviets!”

Assignment: Marples, Chapter 1 and 2

soviethistory.org - 1917                                                                

 

3 and 5 Feb.    3. Reds vs. Whites vs. Anarchists, et. al. - The Russian Civil War, 1918-1921. Non-Russian Nationalities and Nationalism. War Communism. Historiographical Debates on the Creation and Evolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the USSR

Assignment: Marples, Chapter 2

Husband, Chapters 4-7                                

soviethistory.org - 1921

 

10 and 12 Feb.    4. The Era of the New Economic Policy: Retreat and Rebuildind 19ng, 1921-1928.

Culture and Society during the NEP: the Transformation of Everyday Life and Values. Culture and Cultural Revolution. 

Discussion of Husband readings 4-7

Assignment: Marples, Chapter 3

Begin reading Dolot

soviethistory.org – 1924

First Examination

 

17 and 19 Feb.     5. The Death of Lenin: “Long Live Lenin” and the Cult of Lenin. Socialism in One Country and the New Economic Policy.

Assignment: Marples, Chapters 3 and 4

McCauley, Stalin and Stalinism, Chapters 1 and 2 and document 1                                  

 

24 and 26 Feb.     6. Leadership, Internal Power Struggles and the Struggle for Succession. The Stalin-Trotsky Controversy.

Assignment: Marples, Chapters 4 and 5

Husband, Chapters   8-10

McCauley, Chapter 3, documents 2-15

soviethistory.org – 1924, 1929                                 

 

3 and 5 March   7. The Stalin Revolution. Collectivization, Industrialization and the Five Year Plan. State Sponsored Economic Modernization and the Eventual Victory over Capitalism 

Assignment: Marples, Chapters 4 and 5

Husband, Chapters 8 and 9

soviethistory.org – 1929, 1934

 

9-13 March 8. Spring Break - Finish Reading Dolot

Assignment: Write the Dolot book critique

 

17 and 19 March    9. Discussion and Analysis of the Dolot book and related documents on industrialization, political purges and the gulag. Culture and Society in the Socialist Motherland.

Assignment: McCauley, Chapter 3 and documents

The Dolot Critique is Due!

 

24 and 26 March 10. The Path toward a Communist Utopia – Goals, Problems, Solutions and Results. The Structure of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union – the CPSU

Second Examination

Assignment: Marples, Chapter 6

McCauley, Chapter 3 and 5, documents 16-21                                  

soviethistory.org – 1934, 1936, 1939

Begin reading Kuznetsov, Babi Yar

 

31 March and 2 April     11. Stalin “Cleanses” the Party and State,” The Assassination of Kirov, the Great Purges and the Building of Socialism through Forced Labor in the Siberian Gulag.

Stakhanovite Glory and the Workers’ Paradise. Historical Interpretations of Stalinism and the Stalinist Purges.

Assignment: Marples, Chapters 4 and 5

Husband, Chapter 11                                   

McCauley, Chapters 3, 6 and 7 and related documents

soviethistory.org – 1934, 1936, 1939

Finish reading Kuznetsov

 

7 and 9 April      12. The Great Fatherland War – World War Two.  Discussion of Babi Yar. The Death of Stalin. A Retrospective: Stalin, Stalinism and the Stalinist Legacy. 

Assignment: Marples, Chapters 7 and 8

McCauley, Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7                                    

soviethistory.org – 1939, 1943, 1947, 1954

Kuznetsov Book Critique is Due!

 

14 and 16 April     13. The Cold War. Soviet Global Influence and US – Soviet Relations. The Foreign Policies of Stalin and Khrushchev. De-Stalinization and Khrushchev’s Reform Policies.

Assignment: Marples, Chapters 7 and 8

Begin reading Raleigh                                                    

soviethistory.org – 1947, 1954, 1956, 1961,

 

21 and 23 April     14. From Reform to Stagnation: Khrushchev’s Fall from Power and the Brezhnev “Years of Stagnation.” An Appraisal of Stalin’s Successors and the Significance of Gorbachev’s Policy of Glasnost and Perestroika.   

Assignment: Marples, Chapters 9 and 10

soviethistory.org – 1968, 1973, 1980, 1986, 1989

Finish reading Raleigh

 

28 and 30 April  15. Discussion of Russia’s Sputnik Generation. Why did the Soviet Union Collapse? A Historical Reflection. Russia and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union: New Identities and Resurgent Global Power – Developments in the Twenty-first Century.                                             

Assignment: Marples, Chapter 11

Husband, Chapter 13

                                                                        

6-12   May        16.     Examination Week! USSR Final Examination!