Bachelor
2025/2026
Area Studies:The USA
Type:
Elective course (International Programme 'International Relations and Global Studies')
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
2 year, 1, 2 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Eduard Zulfatovich Galimullin
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
56
Course Syllabus
Abstract
What does democracy look like in a time of deep political polarization? How do nations balance freedom with security? When do governments succeed in representing the will of the people, and when do they fail? How do domestic politics shape a country’s role on the global stage? These are questions that have defined American political life from its founding to the present day, and they remain central to understanding the United States in the 21st century.
The course examines the key trends and distinctive features of U.S. history and policy, the country’s economic potential, and its role in global politics. Students will analyze the fundamental characteristics of the U.S. domestic political system, major challenges, and trends in domestic policy development. Additionally, the course will explore the main regional directions of U.S. foreign policy, Washington’s strategic approach to international affairs, as well as the key issues and prospects of U.S.-Russia relations. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on political science, history, law, and international relations to provide a comprehensive understanding of American political life.
Learning Objectives
- 1. Understand the historical trajectory of the U.S. from its founding to the present day; 2. Analyze the core principles of American government and political institutions; 3. Examine major domestic challenges including political polarization, and economic inequality; 4. Explore U.S. foreign policy, regional strategies, and global leadership; 5. Critically assess the U.S.-Russia relations in historical and contemporary contexts.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Understand the historical trajectory of the U.S. from its founding to the present day
- Analyze the core principles of American government and political institutions
- Examine major domestic challenges including political polarization, and economic inequality
- Explore U.S. foreign policy, regional strategies, and global leadership
- Critically assess the U.S.-Russia relations in historical and contemporary contexts
Course Contents
- Lecture 1 and Lecture 2. Foundations of the U.S. Government
- Seminar 1. Principles of American government
- Lecture 3. Civil War and ReconstructionЛекционные 2 ч Самостоятельная работа 3 ч
- Seminar 2. Making of the U.S. Constitution
- Seminar 3. Slavery, Race, and Federal Power
- Lecture 4. From Gilded Age to Great Depression
- Seminar 4. The New Deal and the Role of Government
- Lecture 5. The Cold War Era
- Seminar 5. Emergence and expansion of Global Institutions
- Lecture 6. The American Economy & Society
- Seminar 6. Civil Rights and Social Change
- Lecture 7. American political ideologies and beliefs
- Seminar 7. Midterm Test
- Lecture 8. The U.S. Political System: Congress, Presidency, Courts
- Seminar 8. Checks and Balances in Action
- Lecture 9. Policy-Making and the Bureaucracy
- Seminar 9. Federalism: State vs. Federal Power
- Lecture 10. Political Parties and Interest Groups
- Seminar 10. Power and Access in American Politics
- Lecture 11. Elections and Voting Behavior
- Seminar 11. How Americans Vote
- Lecture 12. U.S. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century
- Seminar 12. Regional Focus: Europe, Asia, Middle East
- Lecture 13. U.S. Grand Strategy and Competing Powers
- Seminar 13. U.S.-Russia Relations
- Lecture 14. Polarization & Threats to Democracy
- Seminar 14. The United States at a Crossroads
Assessment Elements
- Midterm testThere will be an in-class midterm test taken on the last seminar of the 1st module covering a whole class block.
- Active participationActive participation in class is essential as the learning process will be richest as more people become involved in the conversation and debate. By the end of every seminar the point will be given to each student who attended and contributed to the discussion in the following format: 0 – if a student attended the class, but failed to speak on the topic; 1 – if a student attended a class and answered only ones; 2 – if a student attended a class, answered on several occasions (structurally, with arguments), but with some minor mistakes; 3 – if a student attended a class, answered on several occasions (structurally, with arguments) without mistakes and added extra information from the sources not listed in seminar's reading list. By the end of the course the instructor will provide a final mark for the seminar's participation calculated as an average mark for all the seminars.
- In-class quizzesEvery seminar will start with a short quiz that includes 2-5 short questions based on a reading list proposed for the class. Therefore, all readings must be completed before you meet in class.
- Final essayThere will be a final written assignment of approximately 15000 characters with spaces. There are 5 topics to choose from, but no more than 4 students can choose each topic. The essay is due the penultimate class of the 1nd module.
- Final examThere will be an obligatory oral exam taken on the exam week in December. The list comprised of 30 questions will be sent by the instructor one month before the Final exam date. Each student will get two questions based on the course content, will have 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to answer. The instructor, if needed, may ask additional questions concerning other topics of the course.
Interim Assessment
- 2025/2026 2nd moduleMidterm test: Контрольная работа * 0.2 + Active participation: Активность * 0.2 + In-class quizzes: Самостоятельная работа * 0.1 + Final essay: Эссе * 0.1 + Final exam * 0.4
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- American government and politics today : the essentials, Bardes, B. A., 2014
- American history : a very short introduction, Boyer, P. S., 2012
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- American civilization : an introduction, Mauk, D., 2014
- American constitutionalism. Vol.2: Rights and liberties, Gillman, H., 2017
- American diplomacy, Kennan, G. F., 2012
- Analyzing American democracy : politics and political science, Bond, J. R., 2013