Магистратура
2026/2027
Историография советского общества
ID 1161023
Статус:
Курс по выбору (Глобальная и региональная история / Global and Regional History)
Кто читает:
Департамент истории
Где читается:
Санкт-Петербургская школа гуманитарных наук и искусств
Когда читается:
1-й курс, 2 модуль
Охват аудитории:
для всех кампусов НИУ ВШЭ
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
3
Контактные часы:
30
Course Syllabus
Abstract
What are main approaches in history and anthropology of the Russian Empire and Soviet society? What are this field’s classic debates and new issues? How do they differ thematically and methodologically? This course offers a historiographic introduction to this field of study. The course focuses of key case studies that has defined Russian/Soviet studies as well as on its emerging research agenda.
Learning Objectives
- The main aim of this course is to equip students with a critical understanding of Soviet society by analyzing key historiographical debates and methodological approaches concerning identity, everyday life, and state-society relations from the revolutionary period to its dissolution.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Knows main historiographical discussions on the theme and can take part in discussing research questions within the field.
- To be familiar with the main approaches in Soviet history and be able to discuss the key ideas and discussions
- Assess the complex interactions between Soviet state policies and the everyday lives, identities, and practices of its citizens.
- Explain the operation of state power, including the use of legal frameworks, surveillance, and repression, and understand their impact on social order and everyday life
- Analyze how pivotal events, such as World War II, shaped Soviet society, social structures, and the popular psyche in the postwar era.
- Discuss objects, consumption patterns, and cultural production as historical sources to understand the values, aspirations, and internal dynamics of late Soviet society
Course Contents
- Introduction. Main Approaches to the Soviet Historiography
- Sexual Revolution and Soviet Genders
- Law and Terror: difficulties of borders
- Diversity of Soviet National politics
- Soviet Life after the War: Hopes and Illusions
- Soviet Materiality
- The Last Soviet Generation
Assessment Elements
- In-class essayYou will have 2 hours 40 minutes to write an in-class essay based on course materials. A list of potential topics will be published 2 weeks before the exam. The essay should demonstrate familiarity with course materials, integrate at least 3 different topics/themes in a coherent argument, offer insightful conclusions and generalizations, and include a comparative dimension (e.g., Soviet historiography in relation to other historiographical traditions or your own field of study). A short break (10–15 minutes) may be taken at any point, but the total time will not be extended.
- In-class presentationEach student (possible to work on this in pairs) presents an additional academic text at the beginning of the seminar. The goal is to summarize the main arguments, explain the author’s methodology, and demonstrate the text’s relevance to the topic.
- Attendance and in-class discussionStudents are expected to attend all seminars and take active part in the discussion and demonstrate knowledge of the content of lectures and readings.
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 1st module0.3 * Attendance and in-class discussion + 0.4 * In-class essay + 0.3 * In-class presentation
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Fitzpatrick, S. (2007). Revisionism in Soviet History. History & Theory, 46(4), 77–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2303.2007.00429.x
- The structure of Soviet history : essays and documents, , 2003
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- The Cambridge history of Russia. Vol.3: The twentieth century, , 2006