Бакалавриат
2026/2027
Регионоведение: США
Статус:
Курс по выбору (Международная программа «Международные отношения и глобальные исследования»)
Кто читает:
Факультет мировой экономики и мировой политики
Где читается:
Факультет мировой экономики и мировой политики
Когда читается:
2-й курс, 1, 2 модуль
Охват аудитории:
для своего кампуса
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
4
Контактные часы:
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 historical development, political institutions, economic foundations, and foreign policy of the United States from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will explore the evolution of American constitutionalism, federalism, and democratic governance, as well as the country's economic model, political culture, and major social transformations. Particular attention is devoted to contemporary challenges, including political polarization, institutional change, and the role of the United States in an increasingly competitive international system. The course also examines the evolution of U.S. foreign policy across different regions and assesses America's global leadership in the context of emerging geopolitical competition. Drawing on political science, history, law, economics, and international relations, the course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the United States as both a domestic political system and a global actor.
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 after the Cold War
- Seminar 12. Regional Focus: Europe, Asia, Middle East
- Lecture 13. U.S. Grand Strategy and Great Power Competition
- Seminar 13. U.S.-Russia Relations
- Lecture 14. Polarization & Threats to Democracy
- Seminar 14. The United States at a Crossroads
Assessment Elements
- ColloquiumThere will be an individual oral colloquium held during the final weeks of the course. Each student will be assigned one topic selected from the list of final examination questions and will be expected to demonstrate a clear understanding of the topic, engage in discussion, and answer follow-up questions from the instructor. The colloquium is intended to assess students' knowledge prior to the final examination and provide formative feedback.
- 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 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.
- 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: 1 – if a student attended the class, but failed to speak on the topic; 2 – if a student attended a class and answered only ones; 3 – if a student attended a class, answered on several occasions (structurally, with arguments), but with some minor mistakes; 4 – 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.
- Midterm testThere will be an in-class midterm test taken on the last seminar of the 1st module covering a whole class block. It consists of four parts: multiple-choice questions, historical images requiring identification of the event or historical context, chronology tasks requiring students to arrange historical events in the correct order, and extended-answer questions requiring a concise and reasoned respons. The assessment is based on the accuracy of factual knowledge, ability to identify and contextualize historical events, understanding of chronological relationships, and ability to provide clear and well-reasoned answers to open-ended questions. The total duration of the midterm test is 65 minutes.
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 2nd module0.25 * Active participation + 0.1 * In-class quizzes + 0.1 * Colloquium + 0.2 * Midterm test + 0.35 * Final exam
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