Master 2025/2026

Core Seminar "Social, economic and political development of Eurasian Countries"

Type: Compulsory course (Comparative Politics of Eurasia)

Delivered by: Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 1 year, 1-4 module

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Andrey Starodubtsev

Language: English

ECTS credits: 6

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This core seminar aims to familiarize students of the educational trajectory “Issues of Eurasian Countries Development” with relevant approaches to and tools for academic and policy-oriented research in post-Soviet area studies with the emphasis on the concept of development and its implications to Eurasian region’s context. This will enable greater coherence of the educational process, set grounds for knowledge and understanding of the state of the art in the field, and help students to improve their professional communication skills. The seminar will focus on major scholarly discussions on the factors and consequences of social, economic and political development of the post-Soviet countries. It will also scrutinize various methodological paradigms and methods used for research on specific topics.

Learning Objectives

• The main objective of the course is to immerse students in theoretical discussions devoted to the features, factors and consequences of the current state of socio-economic and political development of post-Soviet countries, which should provide the students with the necessary expertise to prepare analytical materials in the interests of government agencies, society and business structures.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• - understands the methodological foundations of modern political social research;
• - plans empirical research using modern methods of collecting and analyzing data;
• - understands the content of the concept of "development" in the context of the current state of social sciences;
• - knows the basic concepts and notions of comparative politics;
• - characterizes the current state of socio-economic and political development in the post-Soviet countries;
• - defines the causes and consequences of the level of socio-economic and political development in the post-Soviet countries.

Course Contents

• Methodology of Case Studies and Comparative Case Studies
• The Concept of Development in Social Sciences
• Socio-economic and Political Development in the Post-Soviet Countries

Assessment Elements

• In-class participation
  Students are expected to attend each seminar and regularly participate in discussions. The instructor grades the participation during the seminars based on the quality of answers, demonstration of engagement with the assigned readings and home tasks, and overall quantitative involvement in the in-class activities. The instructor grades the participation in discussions during seminars, answers to instructor’s questions and overall involvement in the in-class activities and group work.
• Oral exam
  Throughout the course, students will complete three oral examinations. Each exam is designed to assess the knowledge and understanding of the material covered in the corresponding term. Each exam will be conducted in a one-on-one interview format. The examination questions will cover key topics, concepts, and practical applications studied during the term. There will be a limited amount of time to prepare an answer for each question. Grading will be based on the completeness, accuracy, and structure of the response.
• Test

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 2nd module
  0.25 * In-class participation + 0.25 * In-class participation + 0.5 * Oral exam
• 2025/2026 4th module
  0.25 * In-class participation + 0.25 * In-class participation + 0.5 * Oral exam
• 2026/2027 2nd module
  0.2 * In-class participation + 0.2 * In-class participation + 0.4 * Oral exam + 0.2 * Test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Hale, H. E. . (DE-588)136496350, (DE-576)301049882. (2015). Patronal politics : Eurasian regime dynamics in comparative perspective / Henry E. Hale. New York, NY: Cambridge Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.419984909
• Michael L. Ross. (2013). The Oil Curse: How Petroleum Wealth Shapes the Development of Nations. Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.b.pup.pbooks.9686

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Hale, H. E. (2006). Why Not Parties in Russia? : Democracy, Federalism, and the State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=146164
• Levitsky, S., & Way, L. (2010). Competitive Authoritarianism : Hybrid Regimes After the Cold War. Cambridge University Press.

Authors

• Starodubtsev Andrei Vladimirovich