Courses

125j History, Politics, and Culture in the Republic of Georgia

Three weeks in the Republic of Georgia. Students will attend a series of lectures in English on historical and contemporary issues in Caucasia and will be allocated short internships according to their interests (e.g., NGOs, Parliament, hospitals, the Foreign Ministry). There will be a number of cultural excursions to historical sights with local guides. Students will stay with families and be expected to write a short report on their internship as well as a paper about some aspect of Caucasian history or politics. Meetings and events take place in the Republic of Georgia, January 3-24. Fees: $1,800 for travel and accommodation.

131 Nomads, Steppes, and Cities: An Introduction to the Peoples and Cultures of Russia and Eurasia

The collapse of the Soviet Union has revealed a mosaic of nations, peoples, and cultures emerging from a hidden landscape formerly perceived as monolithic. We will explore the rediscovered histories, cultures, and arts of peoples who have dwelled upon the vast Eurasian plain for more than 2,000 years and whose interaction with one another and the West has been and will continue to be crucial in shaping the history of two continents.

240 Russia: From Communism to Capitalism

Russia was transformed by communist revolution into a global superpower that challenged the dominant ideologies of liberalism and nationalism. It became a powerful alternative to capitalism. In 1991, this imperial state collapsed and underwent an economic, political, and cultural revolution. What explains the Soviet Union's success for 70 years and its demise in 1991? What sort of country is Russia as it enters the twenty-first century? Is it a democracy? How has Russia's transformation affected ordinary people and Russia's relationship to the West?

242 Oil and Water Don't Mix: Geopolitics, Energy, and the Environment

Following the collapse of the USSR and the Gulf War, Central Asia and the Caucasus became new centers of geopolitical rivalry. The new states are a source of energy (oil and gas) for Western powers and a vital transit corridor between Eastern Europe and China. While a new "Great Game" is being fought between Western, Far Eastern, and Middle Eastern powers for control over energy pipelines, the region is threatened by environmental catastrophe and water shortages. Is the new oil industry a source of prosperity or an instrument for further exploitation, corruption, and instability? How important are the new states to the West's strategic energy interests?

330 Nationalism

Nationalism is one of the greatest challenges to multiethnic states. They have had to create new strategies to deal with the demands of ethnic minorities. Taking the four states of Spain, Canada,Russia, and the former Yugoslavia as examples, we will focus on nationalist movements within these states and the central governments'responses. What has been the effect of the Communist legacy? Are there alternatives to federalism as a way of managing national claims? What socioeconomic policies have governments used to control ethnic tensions? What role can international organizations play in finding solutions to ethnic conflict?