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HS328: Soviet History

Module Title	Soviet History
Module Code	HS328
Module Tutor	Melanie Ilic
School	Humanities
CAT Points	30
Level of Study	6
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
Restrictions	In taking this module you cannot pass HS309 or pass HS316
Brief Description	This module examines Soviet history, 1921-1991. It focuses on Soviet leaders and policies from Lenin to Gorbachev and places particular emphasis on contemporary historiographical debates on the changing nature of the Soviet regime, its achievements and reasons for its collapse.
Indicative Syllabus	The following issues are discussed: transition to and from the New Economic Policy; the rise of Stalin; industrialisation, collectivisation and Soviet economic achievements before the Second World War; purges and the ‘Great Terror’; the forced labour system; social change under Stalin; the Soviet Union at war and post-war economic recovery; high Stalinism, post-war politics and the cold war; de-Stalinisation; Khrushchev’s reform programme and the ‘thaw’; Brezhnev and neo-Stalinism; the Gorbachev revolution, glasnost’ and perestroika; the collapse of the Soviet system. A thematic approach is taken to the historiographic analysis of a range of issues that will vary from year to year depending on student interest and current developments in Russia. They may include: Soviet visual culture, posters and iconography; women in the Soviet Union; the nationalities question; religious and education policies; leisure and culture; Soviet elites; constitutions, Communist Party programmes and elections; environmental policies, practices and disasters; the role of dissent; leadership succession struggles; international relations and détente.
Learning Outcomes	i. Knowledge and understanding On successful completion of the module, the student should be able to demonstrate: a) a good acquaintance with the chronology of Soviet history from 1921 to 1991; b) an understanding of a range of historiographical approaches employed in the analysis of Soviet history; c) an awareness of the contemporary relevance of historical events in Russian politics, society and international relations. ii. Skills On successful completion of the module, the student should be able to demonstrate: a) an ability to evaluate original source materials (including historical documents, memoirs and literature); b) identification of historiographical issues and a critical assessment of contesting historical viewpoints and interpretations; c) proficiency in written and verbal communication.
Learning and Teaching Activities	Staff / student contact: 20% (lectures, seminars, tutorials) Student directed learning: 80%
Assessment (For further details see the Module Guide)	001: 35% Coursework: Standard: 3000 words or equivalent 002: 15% Coursework: Standard: 1000 words or equivalent 003: 25% Coursework: Standard: 2000 words or equivalent 004: 25% Coursework: Standard: 500 words or equivalent
Special Assessment Requirements	None
Indicative Resources	The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.

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