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Empire and Hierarchy in Russia and Eurasia

Module description

The war in Ukraine has put Eastern Europe and Eurasia’s imperial legacies in stark perspective. This module offers you an overview of the intricate hierarchical interactions between Moscow and subalterns within its claimed “sphere of special interest”. Employing an interdisciplinary and transhistorical approach, we delve into the nexus of politics, cultural representation, and scientific discourse. Our central inquiries revolve around the enduring impact of imperial legacies on Russia’s relations with Western (post-)modernity, its former and current imperial subjects, and the broader global context.

This module does not have any pre-requisites or co-requisites; it is suitable for both specialist and non-specialist students, and is recommended for interdisciplinary pathways.

Module aims - intentions of the module

After establishing a theoretical foundation in postcolonial theory, the module explores the historical connections between the Russian metropole and its imperial subalterns during the Tsarist and Soviet eras. We examine their political, scientific, and cultural dimensions. Subsequently, we analyse the ongoing relevance of these legacies in contemporary regional and global interactions. Specifically, we investigate how hierarchical structures continue to shape Russia’s relations with the West and the “global South.” Additionally, we explore evolving perceptions of Russia’s claimed “sphere of interest” and the responses of Eastern European, Caucasian, and Central Asian subalterns as they engage in nation-building and decolonization efforts. Through this exploration, you will gain a deep interdisciplinary understanding of the ideological underpinnings behind the hegemonic and counter-hegemonic practices and narratives of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia’s elites and societies.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critically apply postcolonial theory to the interdisciplinary study of Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
• 2. Analyse historically grounded exceptionalist assumptions underpinning politics and security in the ‘former Soviet space’.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Compare Russia’s hierarchical claims with those of other powers, both Western and non-Western.
• 4. Understand the multi-layered and complex nature of imperial legacies in contemporary regional and global politics.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Demonstrate your ability to work in a group
• 6. Write critical, interdisciplinary scholarly texts in the area of social sciences

Syllabus plan

We expect to cover the following topics:

• Postcolonial/Decolonial Theory
• Russia and Western Modernity
• Culture, Science, and the Subaltern in Tsarist Russia
• Imperial Hierarchies and the Soviet Union
• Post-Cold War Russia between Liberal Order and Empire
• Russia and the ‘Global South’
• Russia, its ‘Western Subalterns’, and the War in Ukraine
• Imperial Legacies in the Caucasus and Central Asia

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Kivelson, V. A., & Suny, R. G. (2017). Russia’s Empires. Oxford University Press.
• Suny, R. G., & Martin, T. (Eds.). (2001). A State of Nations: Empire and Nation-Making in the Age of Lenin and Stalin. Oxford University Press.
• Oskanian, K. (2021). Russian Exceptionalism between East and West: the Ambiguous Empire. Palgrave.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• https://www.abimperio.net/cgi-bin/aishow.pl?state=index_eng&idlang=1

Key words search

Russia, Empire, Eurasia, Eastern Europe, Postcolonialism