Political Science 156A, Fall 2001: Government and Politics of Russia

Instructor: Richard D. Anderson, Jr.

Office: 4353A Bunche Hall

Phone: (310) 206-5228 email: randerso@ucla.edu

website for lecture notes: http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/polisci/faculty/anderson/

Purpose: To examine the transformation of Soviet authoritarianism into Russian democracy in the context of the comparative literature on democratic transitions. Lectures open with a discussion of the Soviet state – its political institutions, its economic order, its violent relationship to society. Then we will look at Gorbachev’s perestroika as an instance of democratic transition. The second half of the course covers the emergence of an electoral order in Russia with attention to the concurrent privatization of the economy. Particular emphasis will be placed on the effects of the Soviet past on electoral outcomes as an explanation why elections originally favored democrats over communists but have since relegated the democrats to junior partners in a coalition with centrists as the only means of defeating a communist comeback.

Course Requirements: This course requires writing a term paper of 5000 words, not including references. The assigned length is a guideline, and excellent papers that are shorter or longer may still earn a top grade. The student must report the length of the paper in words on the cover sheet or front page. The paper must concern contemporary Russian democracy (the subject of the course). Each student must fulfill three other requirements. First, before a student may submit a paper, the student must discuss with the instructor, in a face-to-face meeting, the question to be answered in the paper and receive approval of the topic. This meeting must take place before the end of Week 8 (to allow time to complete the paper). Second, the student must cite the assigned readings plus other readings to be identified by the student. Third, the student must provide full references for any ideas taken or text quoted from readings. The references must cite each author in any edited volume – for example, the individual authors in Brown, not Brown’s volume as a whole.

Office Hours: My office door is open. I am generally on campus Monday through Friday between 11:00 and 7:00 p.m. If the door happens to be physically closed, please knock firmly. You are best advised to telephone or email for an appointment.

Readings: These paperback books can be purchased at ASUCLA: