What you must do in this unit
- Review all of the applicable chapters in the textbook since the midterm exam.
- Check the remarks by Professor Blois and Professor Evans on the future of Russia.
- Read the short excerpt from the satirical novel Monumental Propaganda by the Russian writer Vladimir Voinovich about the disappearance of the Soviet regime and Russia's prospects for the future. This short passage occurs near the end of the book.
- If you have not done so already, now would be a good time to review my interactive lecture on Russian geography.
- Study the Questions to Consider and the Key Terms for the Unit.
- Take the final exam (250 points).
What you can do in this unit
- Read the special issue of the Economist from 2008 that covered key issues faced by Russia in the twenty-first century. (Log into Canvas and look for the set of articles under "Course Documents."). This reading might help you prepare for the final exam essay question.
- If you can locate a copy, read "Z" (Martin Malia), "To the Stalin Mausoleum," Daedalus (January 1990): 295-344 and the reply by Alexander Dallin, "Causes of the Collapse of the USSR," Post-Soviet Affairs (VIII 1992): 279-302.
- Check out Tatyana Windsor's notes on the St. Catherine's Cathedral in Pushkin.
- Enjoy this YouTube video, Complete History Of The Soviet Union, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris.
Some videos that you can watch for this unit
- Vladimir Putin Biography
- BBC - Inside South Ossetia
- Al Jazeera - Russia VS Georgia war
- For extra credit please suggest to your instructor a relevant video for this unit of the course. Send the title of the video, the URL and a brief explanation of why you find the video interesting and applicable to the material that is being studied in this unit.
Extra Credit Options
- For up to 50 points of extra credit, read Sheets, 8 Pieces of Empire and submit the Sheets paper for extra credit.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, dare to watch Russkii Kovcheg (Russian Ark, 2002)--Don't look at my comments on the film before you watch it-- and write a one-page paper explaining the film's presentation of Russian history.
- If you are a real glutton for punishment and want a real challenge, you can tackle the essay that I used for a final exam in my Soviet history class way back in 1988. I'd suggest about two pages, and I'll leave the point value open-ended. (You will not have access to the works by Colton, Bushnell and Cohen unless you locate them.) 1988 Final Exam (*.doc file)
- For extra credit of a maximum of 10 points, write a short paragraph in which you explain what you found most interesting about your study of Russian history in HIS 242 (or what you liked most about the course).
- For extra credit, please suggest a relevant website for this unit of the course. Send your instructor the title of the site, the URL and a brief explanation why you find the information interesting and applicable to the material being studied this Unit.
- Suggest an assignment for use somewhere in the course. Be creative!
Unit Learning Objectives
- Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to (1) demonstrate knowledge of the key events and individuals of Russian history in the last twenty-five years and (2) evaluate recent Russian history to present patterns and trends.