INTL 2010 - Introduction to Russia & Eastern Europe

Credit Hours: 4.00

Objectives:

1. Identify general principles of geography as they relate to the pursuit of national security.
2. Discuss geographic characteristics of Russia and Eastern Europe as they relate to the pursuit of national security.
3. Identify general principles of geography as they relate to economic growth.
4. Discuss specific geographic characteristics of Russia and Eastern Europe as they relate to economic growth.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the peoples and cultures of Russia and Eastern Europe.

Objectives:

1. Analyze and criticize current religious and political conflicts in the area and contrast and compare the geopolitical processes of nationalism and regionalism.
2. Identify the major languages, religious and folk customs, and traditions of the area and explain how they have contributed to popular culture.
3. Discuss trends in literature, music, and film and explain how they reflect the region’s response to social and political modernization.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of how diverse races and cultures of the world adapted to modernization and globalization.

Objectives:

1. Discuss the distribution of resources across Eastern Europe and Russia and how they impact economic growth.
2. Identify the basics of international markets and trade and illustrate them with examples from Russia and Eastern Europe.
3. Describe how current economic events are tied to this region.
4. Analyze the patterns and consequence of economic policies on the economic growth of Russia and Eastern Europe.
5. Discuss the customs, rules, and traditions influencing the making of political decisions and explain how they reflect the culture of Russia and the Eastern European countries.
6. Locate the main political arenas in which decisions are made.
7. Identify the main participants in political decision-making and explain how they interact to establish policy.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to recognize how interconnected the world is.

Objectives:

1. Identify general principles of globalization.
2. Discuss Russia’s place in global economy.
3. Discuss Eastern Europe’s place in global economy.

Outcome 5: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to apply general analytical skills in writing about Russian and Eastern European issues.

Objectives:

1. Write papers reacting to journal articles read.
2. Compose written reactions to films viewed.
3. Compose a written critique to a book read.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. Introduction and Definition of Russia and Eastern Europe
   1. Geographic Definition
   2. Political Definition
   3. Ethnic Definition
   4. Cultural Definition
2. Geography
   1. General principles of geography as they relate to the pursuit of national security
   2. Specific geographic characteristics of Russia and Eastern Europe as they relate to pursuit of national security
   3. General principles of geography as they relate to economic growth
   4. Specific geographic characteristics of Russia and Eastern Europe as they relate to economic growth
3. Political Culture
   1. General principles of nationalism and political and social culture
   2. Specific political and social culture of Western Civilization
   3. Specific political and social culture and nationalism of Russia and Eastern Europe
   4. Artistic expressions of Russia and Eastern Europe social and political culture and nationalism
4. Modernization
   1. General definition of modernization
   2. General aspects of social development and mobilization
   3. General principles of economic growth and development
   4. Consequences of rapid economic growth
   5. Social mobilization/slow economic growth
   6. General principles of political modernization
5. Modernization Phase I
   1. General principles of mercantilism
   2. Specific Russian and Eastern European mercantilist policies
6. Modernization Phase II
   1. General principles of Marxism/Leninism
   2. Specific Russian and Mid Eastern European Marxist/Leninist policies
7. Modernization Phase III
   1. General Principles of Colonial Liberalism
   2. Specific Russian and Mid Eastern European Liberalism policies
8. Globalization
   1. General principles of globalization
   2. Russia’s place in global economy
   3. Eastern Europe’s place in global economy