Unit HISTORY AND GEOPOLITICS OF THE RUSSIAN BALKAN AREA
- Course
- International relations
- Study-unit Code
- A001432
- Curriculum
- Cooperazione internazionale e state building
- Teacher
- Francesco Randazzo
- Teachers
-
- Francesco Randazzo
- Hours
- 63 ore - Francesco Randazzo
- CFU
- 9
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2024
- Offered
- 2024/25
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Storico
- Academic discipline
- SPS/06
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian language
- Contents
- The course analyzes the history of Russia from 1800 to the present day. A history marked by significant political, social, and economic transformations. At the beginning of the 19th century, under Tsar Alexander I, Russia played a key role in the Napoleonic Wars. Alexander II initiated significant reforms, including the abolition of serfdom in 1861, but his violent death in 1881 highlighted the difficulties of modernizing the empire. The reign of Nicholas II was characterized by internal unrest, temporarily alleviated by the modernization efforts of Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin, whose reforms created a new social class of wealthy farmers known as Kulaks. However, the disastrous participation in World War I and the revolutions of 1917 led to the end of the monarchy. The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, seized power in the October Revolution and established a socialist state. This was followed by a bloody civil war, ending with the birth of the Soviet Union in 1922. Under Stalin, the USSR rapidly industrialized but at a terrible human cost, with millions dying from famines and political purges. After World War II, the USSR emerged as a superpower, entering a long Cold War with the United States. In the 1980s, Gorbachev's reforms attempted to modernize the system but led to the collapse of the USSR in 1991.Post-Soviet Russia, under Boris Yeltsin, went through a difficult transition to a market economy, with severe economic and social crises. Vladimir Putin, in power since 2000, has brought stability and economic growth but has also consolidated power in an authoritarian manner. After an initial period of rapprochement with the West and détente with NATO, recent years have seen increasing tensions with the West, culminating in the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the "special operation" against Ukraine in 2022, leading to international sanctions and growing isolation.
- Reference texts
- O. Figes, History of Russia: Myth and Power from Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin, Mondadori, Milan, 2024
F. Randazzo, Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin: A Reformer in the Tsarist Empire, FrancoAngeli, Milan, 2024
F. Randazzo, Kulaks: Man and Land in Tsarist and Soviet Russia, Libellula, Tricase, 2022 - Educational objectives
- The educational objectives are manifold and complex, reflecting the breadth and historical significance of these realities. Firstly, it is essential to acquire an in-depth understanding of the political transformations that marked the transition from Imperial Russia to the Soviet Union, and finally to modern Russia. This includes analyzing leadership dynamics, the ideologies that guided the various historical phases, and the governing structures that succeeded one another. Another crucial objective is to comprehend the social and economic dynamics that have influenced Russian history. Studying agrarian reforms, forced industrialization, and the economic policies of the USSR helps to better understand how these changes shaped Russian society over the centuries. Similarly, it is important to examine the major revolutions and social movements, such as the 1905 Revolution and the 1917 revolutions, to understand the causes and consequences of these epochal events. The impact of wars is another central theme. Analyzing Russia's and the Soviet Union's participation in global conflicts, from the Napoleonic Wars to the two World Wars and the Cold War, provides a key perspective on the role of war in Russian history. Additionally, studying repressive policies, such as Stalin's purges, and reforms, such as Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost, helps to understand how these interventions profoundly influenced society and politics. Delving into culture and ideology is essential to understand the evolution of Russian and Soviet society. Exploring the arts, literature, and official ideology allows us to see how these elements reflected and influenced political and social transformations. Similarly, studying the international relations of Russia and the USSR, including alliances, rivalries, and their role in global and regional conflicts, is important. Analyzing the political, economic, and social transitions after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Russia's role in contemporary geopolitics constitutes another crucial area of study. This helps to better understand the current dynamics of Russia and the post-Soviet world. Finally, developing critical and analytical skills is fundamental. Learning to critically evaluate historical sources, interpret different historical perspectives, and develop arguments based on historical evidence enables students to become informed and critical experts.
- Prerequisites
- It is essential, but not compulsory, that students have taken courses such as Contemporary History and History of International Relations in their Bachelor's degree, as they are preparatory to the simplified learning of the concepts that will be referred to during the course.
- Teaching methods
- Lectures, thematic seminars, film and documentary screenings, participation in events, visits to archives.
- Other information
- Throughout the course, the instructor will suggest reading pathways for those who wish to delve deeper. The instructor is available before and after class hours. To request the thesis, you must pass the exam and obtain a grade of at least 30. Attendance at the course is optional, though recommended and encouraged.
- Learning verification modality
- The examination includes an oral test consisting of a discussion lasting approximately 30-40 minutes and aimed at ascertaining the student's level of knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical and methodological contents indicated in the syllabus. The oral test will have to verify the student's communication skills, language property and autonomous organisation of the exposition on the same theoretical topics and notions learnt. The following will be strongly appreciated: the ability to synthesise, clear and coherent exposition as well as the ability to be able to link the topics with leading threads and logical-deductive reasoning.
- Extended program
- The Reforms of Alexander II (1855-1881)
Abolition of serfdom (1861)
Judicial and administrative reforms
Policies of economic and military modernization
Repression of revolutionary and nationalist movements
The Reaction of Alexander III (1881-1894)
Repressive and autocratic policies
Russification of ethnic minorities
Industrial and railway development
The Reign of Nicholas II (1894-1917)
Internal unrest and the Revolution of 1905
Reforms of Pyotr Stolypin (1906-1911)
Promotion of agriculture and creation of the kulak class
Repression of revolutionaries and economic modernization
World War I and the Crisis of the Monarchy (1914-1917)
Impacts of the war on Russian society and economy
Growing dissatisfaction and social unrest
The Revolutions of 1917
The February Revolution and the abdication of Nicholas II
The Provisional Government and the Soviets
The October Revolution and the rise of the Bolsheviks
The Russian Civil War (1917-1922)
Conflicts between the Red Army and the White Armies
Consequences of the civil war on society and the economy
The Stalin Regime (1924-1953)
Forced industrialization and agricultural collectivization
Political repression and Stalinist purges
Impacts of Stalin's policies on the kulaks and ethnic minorities
World War II (1941-1945)
The Nazi invasion and the Great Patriotic War
The decisive role of the USSR in defeating Nazi Germany
The Cold War (1947-1991)
Ideological and military conflict between the USA and the USSR
The arms and space race
International crises and containment policies
The Gorbachev Reforms (1985-1991)
Perestroika and glasnost
Economic and political reforms
The dissolution of the Soviet Union
Post-Soviet Russia (1991-2000)
Difficulties of the transition to a market economy
Economic and social crises under Boris Yeltsin
The Era of Vladimir Putin (2000-present)
Consolidation of power and economic growth
Restrictions on political and civil liberties
Assertive foreign policies and Russia's return to the international stage
The Annexation of Crimea (2014)
Tensions with Ukraine and the West
International sanctions and growing isolation of Russia
Putin's War in Ukraine (2022-present)
The invasion of Ukraine and its consequences
International reactions and further sanctions
The evolution of the conflict and its impact on global geopolitics
Summary
The reforms of Alexander II Romanov, initiated in 1855, marked an important phase of modernization for Russia. Among the most significant were the abolition of serfdom in 1861, which freed millions of peasants, and judicial and administrative reforms aimed at modernizing the empire. However, these reforms faced strong resistance, and Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. His successor, Alexander III, adopted repressive and autocratic policies to maintain control, promoting the Russification of ethnic minorities and continuing industrial and railway development. Under the reign of Nicholas II, Russia faced internal unrest culminating in the Revolution of 1905. Petr Stolypin, Prime Minister from 1906 to 1911, sought to stabilize the nation with agricultural reforms that created the class of kulaks, wealthy peasants, but also with a fierce repression of revolutionaries.
Russia's disastrous participation in World War I worsened already severe economic and social conditions, leading to the Revolutions of 1917. The February Revolution forced Nicholas II to abdicate, establishing a provisional government that was overthrown by the October Revolution when Lenin's Bolsheviks took power and established a socialist state. This was followed by years of civil war between the Red Army and the White Armies, ending in 1922 with the birth of the Soviet Union. Under Stalin, the USSR rapidly industrialized, but at the cost of millions of lives due to famines and political purges. World War II saw the USSR play a key role in the defeat of Nazi Germany but left the country devastated.
In the postwar period, the long Cold War with the United States began, an ideological and military conflict that lasted until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In the 1980s, Gorbachev's reforms, perestroika and glasnost, attempted to modernize the USSR but led to its collapse and the birth of post-Soviet Russia. The 1990s were characterized by the difficult transition to a market economy under Boris Yeltsin, with severe economic and social crises. With the rise of Vladimir Putin in 2000, Russia saw a degree of stability and economic growth but also an authoritarian consolidation of power. International relations deteriorated with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and tensions with the West increased.
In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering a war that led to severe international sanctions and increasing isolation. This war has had a significant impact on global geopolitics, marking the latest phase of a complex and turbulent history that has seen Russia transform through the ages. - Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
- 4 (Quality Education), 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)