2025/2026
Россия в контексте мировых цивилизаций
Статус:
Маго-лего
Когда читается:
4 модуль
Охват аудитории:
для всех кампусов НИУ ВШЭ
Преподаватели:
Колыхалова Ольга Алексеевна
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
3
Контактные часы:
20
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The Course on Russia in the Context of World Civilizations ensures a rigorous, interdisciplinary, and discussion-rich Master’s-level course, focusing on critical analysis, primary sources, and global perspectives. It explores Russia’s political, cultural, and historical interactions with both “East—West” societies, with a focus on analyzing how civilizational factors shape the nature of these relationships. This course provides an opportunity to investigate macroregions characterized by distinctive sociocultural, geoeconomic, and international policy features in the context of their connections with Russia. Students will examine these regions’ cultural nuances, linguistic habits, and historical contexts, deepening their understanding of Russia’s complex role in global dynamics. At the heart of this exploration is Russia’s unique position as a connecting civilizational space—a historical and cultural mediator between East and West. As philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev (1915) famously stated: “Russia cannot place itself as the East and set itself against the West... Russia is the ‘East—West,’ the connector of two worlds...” Russia’s geographical location has profoundly influenced its cultural and historical development, shaped by the interplay of the three Abrahamic religions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—which have left an indelible mark on its spiritual and cultural heritage of the vast Eurasian power. Throughout the course, students will explore Russia’s relationships with the European world (Anglo-Saxon, French, and German traditions) as a counterpoint to Orientalism (China and India), and the Maghreb Countries (the North African subregion). Through guided discussions and independent research, students will engage deeply with course materials, honing their critical reading and writing skills while developing a nuanced understanding of Russia’s unique role in civilizational history. To fulfill the course requirements, students need to have a good command of written and spoken English (required language proficiency level is B2 / C1).
Learning Objectives
- • Broaden one’s knowledge about Russia’s historical interactions with the European world (Anglo-Saxon, French, and German traditions) as a counterpoint to Orientalism (India, China, Iran) putting it in the larger context of thematic concerns, historical events and cultural influences that shaped these relations.
- • Increase one’s proficiency in reading, reflecting, analyzing critically, and interpreting a range of assigned Key Texts and documents from historical and contextual perspectives, both orally and in writing.
- • Hone one’s Critical Reading, Critical Thinking, and Critical Writing skills to develop clear and compelling arguments in textual interpretation. Students will effectively articulate their own interpretations—as well as those of other scholars—of historical trends, while demonstrating political, intercultural, and ethical awareness.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Have a systematic understanding of Russia as a Eurasian Civilization, its role in the context of World Civilizations, first of all, historical interactions with Anglo-Saxons, French and German traditions; the evolution of Russian-Chinese and Russian-Indian relations and the Maghreb countries; Russia’s role in global politics, economy, culture, considering the geopolitical context, major stages of development, background, current situation, and major trends in the countries’ development
- Engage with, reflect on, and respond to critical historical, political, economic, cultural themes (significant events, data of the given period; power and influence of important occurrences, etc.) as well as discuss their significance for the development of civilizations and their interactions
- Develop analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as reading and writing skills; work with both primary and secondary sources of information; provide one’s own opinion, and take part in arguments on a variety of topics (individually or in small groups)
- Know key historical events, political, economic and cultural developments, related to the main theme Russia in the Context of World Civilizations from the given list of primary sources and documents; read critically, comprehend, and produce clear, informed, independent opinions and judgements on the assigned Key information; formulate - both orally and in writing - arguable claims and react to others’ ideas about the assigned Key materials
Course Contents
- 1. Course introduction – Russia as a Eurasian Civilization. Russia’s geopolitical and cultural position between Europe and Asia.
- Russia and Europe. Russia’s historical interactions with Anglo-Saxons.
- Russia in its interaction with the East
- Russia and the Maghreb countries (the North African subregion)
- Russian culture as a civilizational phenomenon
- Russia’s Future – Challenges and Opportunities
- Final Projects and Discussions
Assessment Elements
- PRESENTATION 0.2There will be three compulsory presentations as a way for students to demonstrate understanding and mastery of the Key Films in their own unique way. Instructions and scoring rubrics will be given via Smart LMS per task. The tasks are chosen on a “first come, first served” basis. The mean grade for all these tasks is not rounded. Критерии оценивания: Students must give presentations on time. Otherwise, they will get a zero regardless of any excuses.
- WRITTEN TASKS 0.1There will be two compulsory written tasks as a way for students to demonstrate understanding and mastery of the Key Films in their own unique way. Instructions and scoring rubrics will be given via Smart LMS per task. The tasks are chosen on a “first come, first served” basis. The mean grade for all these tasks is not rounded. Students must submit their papers on time. Otherwise, they will get a zero regardless of any excuses.
- QUIZZES GRADE (in Smart LMS) (0.1)During seminars, ongoing quizzes will evaluate students’ understanding of required topics, content of required films/reading and/or videos. It is up to the instructor to decide whether to give a test; students may not be warned about it in advance. The grade depends on the percentage points a student gets for the quiz (see below). Quizzes are compulsory and final and cannot be retaken. If the absence is excused, the grade for the test is not taken into account. The grade for quizzes is the average grade of all the quizzes taken by the student during the course.
- Seminar Attendance and Participation 0,2Проводится: 1 модуль 2025/2026, 2 модуль 2025/2026, Учебный период, Оценивается: 2 модуль 2025/2026 Описание: To validate the course, students are expected to participate in group discussions and in-class assignments at every seminar. If a student actively participates in class discussions during ALL classes or more, they will get a +1 bonus point added to their scaled grade (масштабированная оценка). Students should inform their instructor about their excused absences before the class (not after) by email, and provide the doctor’s notes and other documents about them. An excused absence is an absence due to a number of accepted reasons such as a medical or personal issue beyond one’s control, participation in a significant extracurricular university event, conference etc. If the absence is excused, the grade for seminar attendance will not be reduced. Критерии оценивания: In evaluating one’s attendance and participation, the instructor will use a plus / minus scale: “plus” – present; “minus” – absent. The total points (all of one’s pluses earned) will be converted to a percentage, which will be subsequently translated into an HSE grade according to the following scale: 96-100% = 10; 91-95% = 9; 86-90% = 8; 78-85% = 7; 71-77% = 6; 61-70% = 5; 51-60% = 4; 36-50% = 3; 21-35% = 2; 1-20% = 1; 0% = 0.
- THE FINAL PROJECT (0.2)The final project includes two parts: submitting a research paper (0.1) making a presentation (0.1) Students are to find, read, analyze, and comment on a film from the list compiled by the course instructor. Next, they are to prepare a compulsory presentation and a research paper summarizing their thoughts. The films are chosen on a “first come, first served” basis. Further instructions will be given via Smart LMS. Thus, the project includes a research paper and an oral presentation. In reporting on the project, students should show that they can: identify a meaningful issue relevant to the theme of the chosen film; collect up-to-date information about the issue; analyse, interpret and discuss the information; draw conclusions; and write and present a paper in accordance with academic standards at the graduate level. Students must prepare and present their project together as a team of two people. Group projects can improve student learning, retention, and overall academic success. Properly structured, group projects can reinforce skills that are relevant to both group and individual work, including the ability to: break complex tasks into parts and steps; plan and manage time; refine understanding through discussion and explanation; develop stronger communication skills. Group projects can also help students develop skills specific to collaborative efforts, allowing students to: tackle more complex problems; delegate roles and responsibilities; pool knowledge and skills; establish a shared identity with other group members.
- EXAM ESSAYThe written examination consists of a literary analysis essay (3–5 A4 pages long PLUS a References page), the purpose of which is to carefully examine an aspect of a Key Film discussed during seminars (module 2) and to present an argument / claim about it. The list of topics and guidelines will be given via Smart LMS two weeks before the deadline. Each student taking the exam must choose a topic from the list provided and write their essay during hours of self-guided work. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. For each plagiarized sentence, the student loses one point (for example, 8 → 7). If there are more than three plagiarized sentences in one’s work, the grade for the essay is a zero. This paper should incorporate at least two additional sources. These sources may include critical perspectives, authorial commentaries, and / or historical assessments.
Interim Assessment
- 2025/2026 4th module0.1 * QUIZZES GRADE (in Smart LMS) (0.1) + 0.2 * PRESENTATION 0.2 + 0.2 * THE FINAL PROJECT (0.2) + 0.2 * EXAM ESSAY + 0.2 * Seminar Attendance and Participation 0,2 + 0.1 * WRITTEN TASKS 0.1
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- «Россия и Восток: дорогу осилит идущий» : сборник научных трудов. — Липецк : Липецкий ГПУ, 2019. — 143 с. — ISBN 978-5-907168-61-9. — Текст : электронный // Лань : электронно-библиотечная система. — URL: https://e.lanbook.com/book/146737 (дата обращения: 00.00.0000). — Режим доступа: для авториз. пользователей.
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Ильин В.В. - Россия и Запад. Борьба миров. Actio popularis. Монография - 978-5-392-43352-0 - Проспект - 2025 - http://ebs.prospekt.org/book/48897 - 48897 - PROSPECT