HON-H 304 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy

After decades of Cold War, for a while it seemed possible that the bitter enmity between Russia and the West might give way to an amicable partnership that could address many pressing world problems. Instead, hostility and suspicion between the two sides are now as profound as they have been at any time since the Bolshevik Revolution.

This course will attempt to understand the reasons for this deeply disappointing and dangerous outcome. We will examine the evolution of Soviet foreign policy in the period since World War II and the foreign policy of Russia since the collapse of the Soviet state, focusing in particular on Russia’s relations with the West. Russian policies toward the countries of the Former Soviet Union, especially Ukraine, will also be considered, as will Russian interactions with China, South Asia, and the Middle East.

Topics may include the competing views on foreign policy held by various Russian elites, the persistent legacy of the Russian past and of Soviet experience in international affairs before 1945; the impact of ideology on Soviet and Russian decisions and actions; and the institutions and individuals involved in the making of Moscow’s foreign policy. Readings, lectures and discussions will analyze Soviet conduct during the Cold War, the changes in Soviet foreign and military policies that led to the end of the Cold War, and Russia’s policies in the post-Cold War era. Students will participate in a role-playing exercise, simulating debates in the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Search terms: Russia, USSR, Soviet Union, Ukraine, foreign policy, Cold War, foreign relations, simulation, nationalism, international relations

Above class meets with REEI R300/REEI R500/POLS Y368/INTL I300