Master 2025/2026

Historiography of Soviet Society

Type: Compulsory course (Muslim Worlds in Russia (History and Culture))

Delivered by: Department of History

Where: School of Arts and Humanities

When: 1 year, 2 module

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Evgeniia Platonova, Maria Starun

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 30

Course Syllabus

Abstract

What are main approaches in history and anthropology of the Russian Empire and Soviet society? What are this field’s classic debates and new issues? How do they differ thematically and methodologically? This course offers a historiographic introduction to this field of study. The course focuses of key case studies that has defined Russian/Soviet studies as well as on its emerging research agenda.

Learning Objectives

• The main aim of this course is to equip students with a critical understanding of Soviet society by analyzing key historiographical debates and methodological approaches concerning identity, everyday life, and state-society relations from the revolutionary period to its dissolution.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Knows main historiographical discussions on the theme and can take part in discussing research questions within the field.
• To be familiar with the main approaches in Soviet history and be able to discuss the key ideas and discussions
• Assess the complex interactions between Soviet state policies and the everyday lives, identities, and practices of its citizens.
• Explain the operation of state power, including the use of legal frameworks, surveillance, and repression, and understand their impact on social order and everyday life
• Analyze how pivotal events, such as World War II, shaped Soviet society, social structures, and the popular psyche in the postwar era.
• Discuss objects, consumption patterns, and cultural production as historical sources to understand the values, aspirations, and internal dynamics of late Soviet society

Course Contents

• Introduction. Main Approaches to the Soviet Historiography
• Sexual Revolution and Soviet Genders
• Law and Terror: difficulties of borders
• Diversity of Soviet National politics
• Soviet Life after the War: Hopes and Illusions
• Soviet Materiality
• The Last Soviet Generation

Assessment Elements

• Attendance and in-class discussion
  Students are expected to attend all seminars and take active part in the discussion and demonstrate knowledge of the content of lectures and readings.
• Final review essay
  As a final assignment students must submit a review of a selected book or two (and more) articles related to the scope of the course but beyond the obligatory reading list. Suggested works for review will be provided by the teachers.
• In-class presentation
  Each student (possible to work on this in pairs) presents an additional academic text at the beginning of the seminar. The goal is to summarize the main arguments, explain the author’s methodology, and demonstrate the text’s relevance to the topic.

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 2nd module
  0.3 * Attendance and in-class discussion + 0.4 * Final review essay + 0.3 * In-class presentation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Fitzpatrick, S. (2007). Revisionism in Soviet History. History & Theory, 46(4), 77–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2303.2007.00429.x
• The structure of Soviet history : essays and documents, , 2003

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• The Cambridge history of Russia. Vol.3: The twentieth century, , 2006

Authors

• Dzhafarova Alina Tagirovna
• Platonova Evgeniia Sergeevna
• Starun Maria Igorevna