USSR
RISE AND FALL OF THE USSR
Spring 2012
HIST 22200-01, CRN 43327
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 12:00-12:50
Ithaca College
Zenon V. Wasyliw, Professor, Department of History and
Supervisor, Social Studies Teacher Education
Muller 427, 274-1587, wasyliw@ithaca.edu
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1:00-2:00, Tuesday 11:00-12:00
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 and twenty first centuries. 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 bookstore.
Dolot, Miron. Execution by Hunger: The Hidden Holocaust (Norton Publishing))
Husband, William B. The Human Tradition in Modern Russia (Rowman)
Marples, David. Russia in the Twentieth Century (Longman)
McCauley, Martin. Stalin and Stalinism (Longman)
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (Penguin)
Strayer, Robert. Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse? Understanding Historical Change (M.E.Sharpe)
“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://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/benjamin11e
Citation guide
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/index.htm
Tips for writing history papers – Cornell University
http://www.arts.cornell.edu/prh3/257/classmats/papertip.html
An essay writing guide from our Canadian friends -
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/historyandclassics/essaywritingguide.cfm
Chicago Manual of Style – citation guide
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html
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
Modern History Sources: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/mod/modsbook39.asp
Russian and East European Network Information Center: http://reenic.utexas.edu
Russian Studies Resources http://www.bucknell.edu/x983.xml
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
Lenin: http://www.stel.ru/museum also click on “mausoleum” at bottom
Stalin: http://www.stel.ru/stalin
Historical Documents: http://artsci.shu.edu/reesp/documents
Ukrainian Famine: http://www.holodomor.org/
http://www.holodomor.org/main/ref.shtml
Gulag: http://www.gulaghistory.org
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
A Resource Guide to the Cold War
http://www.mobileqrcodes.us/mobile/guide-cold-war.html
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
Building a Civil Society (or not)
Soros Foundation: http://www.soros.org
Orange Revolution in Ukraine: http://world.maidan.org.ua
Coalition for Democracy in Russia: http://www.theotherrussia.org
Putin: http://www.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, 2011-2012). 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 one page analytical assessments of the Dolot and Solzhenitsyn books prior to class discussion of each book.
4. Students will complete an individual or group special project. The project should be creative in nature and must be approved by the professor. Detailed project guidelines, topics and options will be distributed and reviewed.
5. 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
6. 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.
7. Diminished mental health (stress, depression, untreated mental illness) can interfere with optimal academic performance. There are many potential sources of personal difficulties. Academic studies, family, friends, poor health and difficult romantic relationships can contribute to personal difficulties – and impaired academic performance.
Through the office of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), cost-free support can be obtained when personal difficulties threaten your well-being.
In the event I suspect you might benefit from additional support, I will express my concerns, my reasoning, and remind you of resources (e.g., CAPS, Health Center, Chaplains, etc.) that might be of help to you. It is not my intention to know the details of what you might be experiencing, but simply to let you know I am concerned and that help, if needed, is available.
Getting help is a smart and healthy thing to do… for yourself and for your loved ones.
8. 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 and special project 20%
Final Examination 30%
Qualitative Class Participation 10%
100%
TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
Dates:
23, 25 and 27 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. Role of the Revolutionary Intelligentsia. Legacies: the Burdens of Russian and Soviet History
Assignment: Marples, Russia in the Twentieth Century, Chapter 1
Husband, The Human Tradition in Modern Russia, Chapters 1-3
Strayer, Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse? Introduction and Chapter 1, Legacies
30 Jan., 1 and 3 Feb. 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, Chapters 1 and 2
http://www.soviethistory.org – a. link to the year 1917, b. link one of the specific categories on the left hand side, c. then link and review the listed primary source documents on the right hand side under text and related text. For example – Bolsheviks Seize Power on the left hand side http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=subject&SubjectID=1917october&Year=1917
Then – Taking the Winter Palace on the right hand side http://www.soviethistory.org/index.php?page=article&ArticleID=1917taking1&SubjectID=1917october&Year=1917
You will also need to register a username (your email) and password to access the primary source document
6, 8 and 10 Feb. 3. Reds vs. Whites vs. Anarchists, et. al.. The Russian Civil War, 1918-1921, Non-Russian Nationalities and Nationalism and 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
http://www.soviethistory.org - 1921
13, 15 and 17 Feb. 4. The Era of the New Economic Policy: Retreat and Rebuilding, 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 s 2 and 3
Begin reading Dolot
http://www.soviethistory.org – 1924
First Examination
20, 22 and 24 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, Chapter 3
McCauley, Stalin and Stalinism, Chapters 1 and 2 and document 1
27, 29 Feb. and 2 March 6. Leadership, Internal Power Struggles and the Struggle for Succession. The Stalin-Trotsky Controversy.
Assignment: Marples, Chapters 3 and 4
Husband, Chapters 8-10
McCauley, Chapter 3, documents 2-15
http://www.soviethistory.org – 1924, 1929
5, 7 and 9 March 7. The Stalin Revolution. Collectivization, Industrialization and the Five Year Plan. State Sponsored Economic Modernization and the Eventual Victory over Capitalism
Assignment: Marples, Chapter 4
Husband, Chapters 8 and 9
http://www.soviethistory.org – 1929, 1934
12-16 March 8. Spring Break - Finish Reading Dolot
Assignment: Write the Dolot book critique
19, 21 and 23 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!
Begin reading Solzhenitsyn, Gulag Archipelago
26, 28 and 30 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 4
McCauley, Chapters 3 and 5, documents 16-21
http://www.soviethistory.org – 1934, 1936, 1939
2, 4 and 6 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, Chapter 4
Husband, Chapter 11
McCauley, Chapters 3, 6 and 7 and related documents
http://www.soviethistory.org – 1934, 1936, 1939
Discussion of Gulag Archipelago The Critique is Due!
9, 11 and 13 April 12. The Great Fatherland War – World War Two. The Death of Stalin. A Retrospective: Stalin, Stalinism and the Stalinist Legacy.
Assignment: Marples, Chapter 5
McCauley, Chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7
http://www.soviethistory.org – 1939, 1943, 1947, 1954
16, 18 and 20 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, Chapter 6
http://www.soviethistory.org – 1947, 1954, 1956, 1961,
Strayer, Chapter 2
23, 25 and 27 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 7 and 8
http://www.soviethistory.org – 1968, 1973, 1980, 1986, 1989
Strayer, Chapters 3 and 4
30 April, 2 and 4 May 15. 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 8 and 9
Husband, Chapter 13
Strayer, Chapter 5
7-11 May 16. Examination Week! USSR Final Examination!