RUSSIAN POLITICS AND FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAMME COURSE DESCRIPTION

Code	Name of the Course Unit	Semester	In-Class Hours (T+P)	Credit	ECTS Credit
POL423	RUSSIAN POLITICS AND FOREIGN POLICY	5	3	3	5

GENERAL INFORMATION
Language of Instruction :	English
Level of the Course Unit :	BACHELOR'S DEGREE, TYY: + 6.Level, EQF-LLL: 6.Level, QF-EHEA: First Cycle
Type of the Course :	Elective
Mode of Delivery of the Course Unit	-
Coordinator of the Course Unit	Prof. NEZİHA MUSAOĞLU
Instructor(s) of the Course Unit	Assist.Prof. AHMET SAPMAZ
Course Prerequisite	No

OBJECTIVES AND CONTENTS
Objectives of the Course Unit:	The aim of this course is to make student familiar with the most crucial developments in Russian politics and foreign policy through the analysis of the Russian history, society, political system and relations with the most important foreign actors.
Contents of the Course Unit:	This course concentrates on Russian foreign policy after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. For that, we start with the brief overview of the Russian history, analysis of the Russian political system and domestic politics after 1991, as well as examination of the Russian society from the perspective of nationalism, ideology and the role of Church. Then, we proceed with the general discussion of the Russian foreign policy, hard and soft powers, followed by the examination of Russia's relations with the US, China, Turkey, Syria and Ukraine.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE COURSE UNIT (On successful completion of this course unit, students/learners will or will be able to)

By the end of this course, the students will be able to 1. summarize and explain the nature of the Russian politics and foreign policy; 2. apply theories of International Relations as well as foreign folicy analysis specific theories to the Kremlin's foreign policy decisions; 3. illustrate the theories with the examples of particular acts of Moscow; 4. predict the development of Russian foreign policies in key regions.

WEEKLY COURSE CONTENTS AND STUDY MATERIALS FOR PRELIMINARY & FURTHER STUDY
Week	Preparatory	Topics(Subjects)	Method
1	Oliver Stone. The Putin Interviews. 4 parts. Access from https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=oliver+stone+putin+interview+	Introduction. How You Are Going to Learn About Russia from the Russian.	Intro Q&A Discussion
2	Örmeci & Kısacık, pp.27 – 36; Ülger, pp. 9 – 20. Roskin, pp. 212 – 261. Russia.	History, Geography and Culture. Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. Cold War.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
3	Örmeci & Kısacık, pp.41 – 50, 75 – 112; Ülger, pp. 21 – 72, 135 – 172. Wegren, pp. Chapters 1, 2, 3 Roskin, pp. 212 – 261. Russia.	Political System of the Russian Federation After the Collapse of the USSR.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
4	Ülger, pp. 151 – 188. Wegren, Chapter 7&10 Irina Papkova (2011) Russian Orthodox concordat? Church and state under Medvedev, Nationalities Papers, 39:5, 667-683, DOI: 10.1080/00905992.2011.602394 Paul Chaisty & Stephen Whitefield, Putin’s Nationalism Problem, in Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska & Richard Sakwa (eds), Ukraine and Russia: People, Politics, Propaganda and Perspectives. E-International Relations, Bristol, UK, 2015. pp. 165 – 172. Film Matilda (2017); Leviathan (2014).	Social Constructivism as a Framework for Discussing Russian Society. Nationalism, Ideology and Role of Church.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
5	Örmeci & Kısacık, pp. 113 – 132, 153 – 166, 271 – 286, 355 – 362; Ülger, pp. 73 – 96, 387 - 410. Tsygankov, pp.1 – 33	Main Vectors and Considerations of the Russian Foreign Policy After 1991. Search for the Lost Great Power Status?	Lecture Q&A Discussion
6	Ülger, pp. 189 – 204, 281 – 302; Örmeci & Kısacık, pp. 133 – 152, 167 – 174, 309 - 338. Wegren, Chapter 14. Stefan Bouzarovski & Mark Bassin (2011) Energy and Identity: Imagining Russia as a Hydrocarbon Superpower, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 101:4, 783-794	Energy Politics and Energy Security. Energy as a Leverage of Russian Policies in Europe and Near Abroad.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
7	Halidov, pp.37 – 75. Nye, pp. 1 – 32 (theory compulsory for all students); 73 – 75; Jeanne L. Wilson (2015) Soft Power: A Comparison of Discourse and Practice in Russia and China, Europe-Asia Studies, 67:8, 1171-1202, DOI: 10.1080/09668136.2015.1078108	Soft Power of the Russian Federation. Education, Science, Culture, Religion.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
8	-	MID-TERM EXAM	-
9	Ülger, pp. 411 – 456, 571 – 611. Blank, pp. 175 – 207.	Realism in Russian Foreign Policy. Russian Policies Towards the Former USSR States.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
10	Ülger, pp. 611 – 650; Örmeci & Kısacık, pp. 175 – 192. Elizabeth Wishnick (2017) In search of the ‘Other’ in Asia: Russia–China relations revisited, The Pacific Review, 30:1, 114-132, DOI: 10.1080/09512748.2016.1201129	Moscow – Beijing Relations.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
11	Ülger, pp. 457 – 570, 347 – 376. Tsygankov, pp. 59 – 208 Wegren, Chapter 11	Russia – the United States.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
12	Örmeci & Kısacık, pp. 215 – 252; Ülger, pp. 377 - 386. Paul D’Anieri, Democracy and Geopolitics: Understanding Ukraine’s Threat to Russia, in Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska & Richard Sakwa (eds), Ukraine and Russia: People, Politics, Propaganda and Perspectives. E-International Relations, Bristol, UK, 2015. pp.233 – 241 Allison, Roy. "Russian ‘deniable’ intervention in Ukraine: how and why Russia broke the rules." International Affairs 90.6 (2014): 1255-1297.	Ukraine in the Russian Domestic and Foreign Policies. Orange Revolution, Energy Wars and 2014 Interventions. Annexation of Crimea and Conflict in Donbass. Propaganda and Hybrid Warfare. Azov Crisis.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
13	Ülger, pp. 189 – 204; 281 – 302; Örmeci & Kısacık, pp.253 – 286. Ben Rich & Dara Conduit (2015) The Impact of Jihadist Foreign Fighters on Indigenous Secular-Nationalist Causes: Contrasting Chechnya and Syria, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 38:2, 113-131, DOI: 10.1080/1057610X.2014.979605 Stent, Angela (2016). Putin's Power Play in Syria: How to Respond to Russia's Intervention. Foreign Affairs, 95, 106.	Russia’s Engagement into Syria. Implications for Regional Security and Impact on Domestic Affairs. Predictions as to the Future Developments.	Lecture Q&A Discussion
14	Örmeci & Kısacık, pp. 363 – 470. Hossein Aghaie Joobani & Mostafa Mousavipour (2015) Russia, Turkey, and Iran: Moving Towards Strategic Synergy in the Middle East?, Strategic Analysis, 39:2, 141-155, DOI: 10.1080/09700161.2014.1000658 • Ziya Öniş & Şuhnaz Yılmaz (2016) Turkey and Russia in a shifting global order: cooperation, conflict and asymmetric interdependence in a turbulent region, Third World Quarterly, 37:1, 71-95, DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2015.1086638	Russia and Turkey. History of the Ottoman Policies Towards the Russian Empire. Early Soviet Period. Cold War. Post-Independence Political, Economic and Military Relations.	Presentations Q&A Discussion
15	Örmeci & Kısacık, pp. 363 – 470. Hossein Aghaie Joobani & Mostafa Mousavipour (2015) Russia, Turkey, and Iran: Moving Towards Strategic Synergy in the Middle East?, Strategic Analysis, 39:2, 141-155, DOI: 10.1080/09700161.2014.1000658 • Ziya Öniş & Şuhnaz Yılmaz (2016) Turkey and Russia in a shifting global order: cooperation, conflict and asymmetric interdependence in a turbulent region, Third World Quarterly, 37:1, 71-95, DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2015.1086638	Russia and Turkey. Post-Independence Political, Economic and Military Relations. Role of Syria and S-400 in Russo – Turkish Relations. Predictions as to the Future Developments.	Presentations Q&A Discussion
16	-	FINAL EXAM	-
17	-	FINAL EXAM	-

SOURCE MATERIALS & RECOMMENDED READING
Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska & Richard Sakwa (eds), Ukraine and Russia: People, Politics, Propaganda and Perspectives. E-International Relations, Bristol, UK, 2015.
Andrei P. Tsygankov, Russia’s Foreign Policy: Continuity and Change in National Identity. Fourth Edition (London, UK: Rowman and Littlefield, 2016).
Blank, S. J. (2013). Politics and Economics in Putin’s Russia. ARMY WAR COLLEGE CARLISLE BARRACKS PA STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE.
Dmitri Trenin, Should we Fear Russia? (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 2016)
Nye Jr, J. S. (2004). Soft power: The means to success in world politics. Public affairs.
Roskin, M. (2009). Countries and Concepts: Politics. Geography, Culture, 10.
Stephen White, Richard Sakwa, and Henry Hale (eds), Developments in Russian Politics, 8th edition
Wegren, S. K. (Ed.). (2015). Putin's Russia: past imperfect, future uncertain. Rowman & Littlefield.
Jeanne L. Wilson (2015) Soft Power: A Comparison of Discourse and Practice in Russia and China, Europe-Asia Studies, 67:8, 1171-1202, DOI: 10.1080/09668136.2015.1078108
Irina Papkova (2011) Russian Orthodox concordat? Church and state under Medvedev, Nationalities Papers, 39:5, 667-683, DOI: 10.1080/00905992.2011.602394
Stefan Bouzarovski & Mark Bassin (2011) Energy and Identity: Imagining Russia as a Hydrocarbon Superpower, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 101:4, 783-794
Elizabeth Wishnick (2017) In search of the ‘Other’ in Asia: Russia–China relations revisited, The Pacific Review, 30:1, 114-132, DOI: 10.1080/09512748.2016.1201129
Allison, Roy. "Russian ‘deniable’ intervention in Ukraine: how and why Russia broke the rules." International Affairs 90.6 (2014): 1255-1297.
Ben Rich & Dara Conduit (2015) The Impact of Jihadist Foreign Fighters on Indigenous Secular-Nationalist Causes: Contrasting Chechnya and Syria, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 38:2, 113-131, DOI: 10.1080/1057610X.2014.979605
Stent, Angela (2016). Putin's Power Play in Syria: How to Respond to Russia's Intervention. Foreign Affairs, 95, 106.
Hossein Aghaie Joobani & Mostafa Mousavipour (2015) Russia, Turkey, and Iran: Moving Towards Strategic Synergy in the Middle East?, Strategic Analysis, 39:2, 141-155, DOI: 10.1080/09700161.2014.1000658
Ziya Öniş & Şuhnaz Yılmaz (2016) Turkey and Russia in a shifting global order: cooperation, conflict and asymmetric interdependence in a turbulent region, Third World Quarterly, 37:1, 71-95, DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2015.1086638
Caşın, Mesut Hakkı. Novgorod Knezliği'nden XXI. yüzyıla Rus imparatorluk stratejisi. Atlas, 2015.
Dugin, Aleksandr, & İmanov, V. Rus Jeopolitiği: Avrasyacı Yaklaşım. Küre Yayınları. 2010
Girgin, Kemal. Ruslarla Kavgadan Derin Ortaklığa, İlgi Kültür Sanat Yayınları, İstanbul 2014.
Örmeci, Ozan ve Sina Kısacık. Rusya Siyaseti ve Rus Dış Politikası. Teorik Çerçeve – Tarihsel Arka Plan – Örnek Olaylar. Haziran 2018 / 1. Baskı / 480 Syf.
Özdal, Habibe. Sovyetler Birliği’nin Dağılmasından Kırım’ın İlhakına Rus Dış Politikasında Ukrayna. International Strategic Research Organization (USAK). 2016
Riasanovsky, Nicholas V., and Mark D. Steinberg. Rusya Tarihi. İnkılap Yayınları, İstanbul. 2011.
Roskin, Michael G. Çağdaş Devlet Sistemleri: Siyaset, Coğrafya, Kültür. 2014
Ülger, İrfan Kaya. Putin'in Ülkesi - Yeni Yüzyıl Eşiğinde Rusya Federasyonu Analizi. Seçkin Yayıncılık. 2015
Akhundova, Jale. "Rusya’nin Siyasal Partileri ve Milliyetçilik Görüşleri." International Journal Of Eurasia Social Sciences 2013, no. 11 (2013).
Aydın, M. (2004). 19. YÜZYIL ORTALARINDA PANSLAVİZM VE RUSYA. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 15(15), 73-82.
Balta, E., & Demir, S. (2016). Tarih, Kimlik ve Dış Politika: Rusya Federasyonu Güncel Tarih Ders Kitaplarında Osmanlı-Türk İmajı. bilig/Türk Dünyası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, (76), 1-32.
Halidov, İ. (2014). Rusya’nın Yumuşak Güç Araçları. Avrasya İncelemeleri Dergisi, 3(1), 37-75.
Kamalov, İ. Rusya’nın Orta Asya Politikaları. Rapor. Ahmet Yesevi Üniversitesi. Haziran 2011
Sönmez, A. S. (2010). Moskova’nın Kutuplaşma Çabaları: Putin Dönemi Rus Dış Politikası. Avrasya Etüdleri, 37(1), 37-76.

ASSESSMENT
Assessment & Grading of In-Term Activities	Number of Activities	Degree of Contribution (%)	Description

Level of Contribution
0	1	2	3	4	5

KNOWLEDGE
Theoretical
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Define the basic theoretical, political, economic and administrative theories used in the field of Political Science and International Relations.		1
2	Explain the political history, political ideas, intellectual accumulation of understanding international relations and the way that the history of diplomacy has passed from past to present.			2
3	List the norms of universal law and human rights, the principles of the modern legal system, the names of modern bureaucratic and administrative structures.		1

KNOWLEDGE
Factual
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Explain the Turkish state tradition, the influence of Islam, the accumulation of political thought and its historical background, and compare this accumulation with the current approaches.		1
2	Evaluate the chronological development of relations between political and diplomatic developments and political / diplomatic facts / events / ideas / actors from past to present.						5
3	Analyze the structure and functioning of actors, organizations and organizations that determine international relations.			2

SKILLS
Cognitive
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	In the light of current theoretical debates, apply relevant concepts to current political and international developments.						5
2	Evaluate the Turkish political tradition, developments with the Turkic community.		1
3	Use information on the field when comparing the administrative structures of different countries and their diplomatic traditions.		1

SKILLS
Practical
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Formulate the current political developments, developments and arrangements in international relations in the historical and theoretical accumulation.				3
2	Analyze the functioning of modern political regimes in the light of political and public bureaucratic structures, regulations and developments.						5
3	Examine and analyze current political developments in the Balkans, the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa and the Caucasus in terms of both Turkish political history and international relations discipline.						5

OCCUPATIONAL
Autonomy & Responsibility
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	To conduct a field-specific study individually and to complete it with discipline and responsibility.						5
2	To assume duties and responsibilities in a team work as leader or team member and to fulfil them flawlessly.						5

OCCUPATIONAL
Learning to Learn
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Follow the political and administrative developments in the international political system and the bureaucratic organizations operating in this system.					4
2	Examine the international problems and conflicts, and the problems in the field of administration and politics in detail.						5

OCCUPATIONAL
Communication & Social
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	Follow the current developments in the field of Political Science and International Relations and collaborate with leading names in the field.						5
2	Examine and analyze academic resources and the written and oral studies on the political developments in the region and the world, especially in the Middle East.						5
3	Debate in the field of political science and public administration with different target groups in multicultural environments.				3

OCCUPATIONAL
Occupational and/or Vocational
	Programme Learning Outcomes	Level of Contribution
		0	1	2	3	4	5
1	With the current historical and theoretical knowledge of the field, suggest sustainable, organizational and administrative arrangements aimed at meeting specific goals and solving certain problems.					4
2	To follow latest developments in the field and direct personal studies accordingly within the framework of the lifelong learning principle.Using the theoretical, economic, political and managerial knowledge, and produce reports on current developments, conflicts and agreements in geography related to world politics and especially in the Middle East.						5
3	Construct arguments on the current developments in Turkish politics in the light of the laws, regulations, and the important changes in the constitution and administrative law that determine Turkish political life and foreign relations.					4

WORKLOAD & ECTS CREDITS OF THE COURSE UNIT
Workload for Learning & Teaching Activities
Type of the Learning Activites	Learning Activities (# of week)	Duration (hours, h)	Workload (h)
Lecture & In-Class Activities	14	3	42
Preliminary & Further Study	13	6	78
Land Surveying	0	0	0
Group Work	0	0	0
Laboratory	0	0	0
Reading	0	0	0
Assignment (Homework)	0	0	0
Project Work	0	0	0
Seminar	0	0	0
Internship	0	0	0
Technical Visit	0	0	0
Web Based Learning	0	0	0
Implementation/Application/Practice	0	0	0
Practice at a workplace	0	0	0
Occupational Activity	0	0	0
Social Activity	0	0	0
Thesis Work	0	0	0
Field Study	0	0	0
Report Writing	0	0	0
Final Exam	1	1	1
Preparation for the Final Exam	1	3	3
Mid-Term Exam	1	1	1
Preparation for the Mid-Term Exam	1	3	3
Short Exam	0	0	0
Preparation for the Short Exam	0	0	0
TOTAL	31	0	128