USESEC178 Russia and Europe in History

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Winter 2018
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Rudolf Žáček, Dr. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Rudolf Žáček, Dr.
Institute of Central European Studies – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The students will become familiar with the principal stages of historical development of Russia and the Soviet Union in the context of historical development of Europe with focus put on development of relations from the 19th century till the decline of the Soviet Union. They will be presented the ideology of the Russian tsarist autocracy, transformations of a role of the Orthodox Church in the Russian society and politics, militarization and role of army and security corps in the Russian society. The attention will be paid to the importance of Slavic idea of promotion of interests of the Russian state and presentation of Russia as defender, liberator and a potential unifier of Slavic nations. The student will acquire principal information concerning the fundamental stages of economic and political development of Russia and the Soviet Union, the role of terror and repressions in a creation and an existence of the first totalitarian state as well as a role of the USSR in the divided world after the Second World War. They will be introduced the causes and consequences of the decline of the Soviet bloc and the Soviet Union and will be able to consider the views and possible further development of the post-Soviet area.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction, study literature and assigned requirements
    2. Overview of the Russian history till the end of the 18th century
    3. Russia as a guard of Europe (from the Patriotic War till revolution of 1848/49)
    4. Russian Empire till the beginning of the First World War
    5. War and Revolution
    6. Russia at the Civil war, establishment of the USSR
    7. Economic and political development of the USSR between two wars
    8. Soviet foreign policy from the Genoa Conference till Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
    9. The Soviet Union at the Second World War
    10. From Stalin to Gorbachev: economic and political development of the USSR in years 1945-1985
    11. The USSR and the Soviet bloc at bipolar world
    12. Stagnation and decline: the USSR and the Soviet bloc at the turn of the 80´s and the 90´s of the 20th century, successor states
Literature
    required literature
  • ZUBOV, A. B. Dějiny Ruska 20. století. Díl II., 1939-2007. Praha: Argo, 2015. info
  • ZUBOV, A. B. Dějiny Ruska 20. století.. Díl I., 1894-1939. Praha: Argo, 2014. info
  • VYKOUKAL, J., LITERA, B. a TEJCHMAN, M. Východ. Vznik, vývoj a rozpad sovětského bloku 1944-1989. Praha: Nakladatelství Libri, 2000. ISBN 80-85983-82-6. info
  • ŠVANKMAJER, M., VEBER, V., SLÁDEK, Z. a MOULIS, V. Dějiny Ruska. Praha: Lidové noviny, 1995. info
    recommended literature
  • MASARYK, T.G. Rusko a Evropa. Sv. 1-2. Praha 1919-1921 a 1995-1999. info
  • NOWAK, A. a RUCZAJ, M. (eds). Impérium a ti druzí: Rusko, Polsko a moderní dějiny východní Evropy. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury (, 2010. ISBN 978-80-7325-222-9. info
  • GLĘBOCKI, H. Kresy imperium. szkice i materiały do dziejów politiky Rosji wobec jej peryferii (XVIII-XXI wiek. Kraków, 2006. info
  • PIPES, R. Rusko za starého režimu. Praha: Argo, 2004. info
  • LEŠKA, V. Rusko, Polsko, střední Evropa: dědictví minulosti a současnost. Praha: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů, 1998. ISBN 80-85864-46-0. info
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2016, Winter 2017.
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