Russian & Eurasian Studies 331 - Impacts of War

'Sometimes the object of aggression, sometimes itself the aggressor, Russia has been party to all the major military conflicts of the 19th and 20th centuries - Napoleonic Wars, Crimean War, World War I, and World War II. Russian army also fought in numerous regional wars, notably in Afghanistan in 1979-1989 and recently in Chechnya and Georgia. We will study perceptions of war in modern Russian society and look at their origins, and for that we will do in-depth study of impacts of past wars. What generated support for the government? How does the notion of 'acceptable losses' change over time? How did wars of the past affect social structures and gender roles in Russia?'

This course is open to Juniors and Seniors.