Sociology 451
Russian Society in Transition

Instructor: Dmitri Shalin
http://strata.unlv.edu/people/faculty_2.html#SHALIN

Office: CBC-237, 895-0259, shalin@unlv.nevada.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 2:00-4:00, 6:30-7:00 p.m., or by appointment
http://www.unlv.edu/centers/cdclv

SYLLABUS

EMPHASIS OF COURSE: The course is a sociological survey of Russian society and culture. It reviews major Soviet institutions and examines current attempts to transform Russian society. Special attention is given to the origin of glasnost and perestroika and the difficulties that the former Soviet Union faces in reforming its communist system and building democracy and a market economy. Video materials, audio sessions, and intensive class discussions are an integral part of this class. During the course of the semester students conduct a crosscultural dialogue over internet with students at a Russian university. The Russian potluck dinner is held in the first week of November. The course fulfills the UNLV foreign culture and international studies requirements, and it does not require knowledge of Russian language.

REQUIREMENTS: A written midterm examination is administered in the ninth week of the class. At the end of the semester, students choose between writing a paper covering relevant aspects of the course materials and a final examination reflecting the readings, lectures, and class discussions.  Students taking the 451 section of this class write an exam or research paper on the order of 8-10 double-spaced typewritten pages; those who signed up for the 651 section must write a research paper on the order of 13-16 double-spaced typewritten pages. Participation in class discussions is strongly encouraged. Individual contributions to class discussions will be reflected in the final grade. Graduate level students will receive additional class readings.

OUTLINE OF TOPICS:

1.  Introduction: Problems of studying other cultures
2.  Political system
3.  Education and mass communications
4. Socialization
5.  Youth culture
6.  Social stratification
7.  Deviance and social control
8.  Family and sex roles
9.  Religion, ethnicity, and nationality
10. Conclusion:  Prospects for the future

READINGS : A book by Dmitri N. Shalin, ed., Russian Culture at the Crossroads. Paradoxes of Postcommunist Consciousness (Boulder, CO.: Westview Press), is the main reading source for this class. The book by H. Smith, The Russians, is the main supplementary reading source. Additional readings are selected from various sources and placed on reserve in the library. Special handouts are provided by the instructor. In the list that follows, required readings are marked with asterisk (*).  Other works are recommended for independ­ent studies and/or term papers.

DISABLED STUDENTS POLICY: If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact the Disability Resource Center for coordination in your academic accommodations. The DRC is located in the Reynolds Student Services Complex in Room 137. The DRC Phone # is 895-0866. (TDD-895-0652).

READING ASSIGNMENTS

1. Introduction: Problems Of Studying Other Cultures

*D. Shalin, “Introduction,” in Russian Culture at the Crossroads.
*P. Hollander, Soviet and American Society.  A comparison. Ch. 1.
*D. Shalin, Newspaper clips (provided by the instructor).
D. Shalin, “Liberalism, Affect Control, and Emotionally Intelligent Democracy.” Journal of Human Rights, 2004, 3: 407-428.
D. Shalin, “Soviet Civilization and Its Emotional Discontents,” International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 1996, 16: 21-52.
B. Eklof, Soviet Briefing, ch. 3.
D. Lane, Soviet Society under Perestroika, ch. 11.
Shalin, D. N. "Behavioral and Post-Behavioral Methodologies in Communist Studies." Soviet Union, 1981, 8:186-222.
Mickiewicz, E. Handbook of Soviet Social Science Data, pp. 1-41.

2. Political System

*Russian Culture at the Crossroads, chs. 1, 2, 11.
*Smith, H. The Russians, ch. X.
Smith, H. The New Russians, Parts 1, 2, 5.
Hollander, P. Soviet and American Society, chs. 2, 3.
Lane, D. Politics and Society in the USSR, pp. 1-19, 125-201.
Cohen, C. Communism, Fascism, and Democracy, pp. 481-85.
Brzezinski, Z. and S. Huntington, Political Power: USA/USSR, pp. 17-75.

3. Education and Mass Communication

*Russian Culture at the Crossroads, chs. 3, 8, 9.
*Smith, H. The Russians.
A. Jones, ed., Soviet Social Problems, ch. 2, 12.
Hollander, P. American and Soviet Society, chs. 4, 5.
Lane, D. Politics and Society in the USSR, ch. 14.
Inkeles, A. Social Change in Soviet Russia, chs. 14-15.  

4. Socialization

*Russian Culture at the Crossroads, chs. 5, 6.
*U. Bronfenbrenner, Two Worlds of Childhood: US & USSR.
*D. Shalin, “Soviet Civilization and Its Emotional Discontents,” International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 1996, 16: 21-52.
D. Shipler, Broken Idols, Solemn Dreams, ch. 1.
G. A. Geyer, The Young Russians, ch. 14, 19.
J. W. Santrock, Adolescence, pp. 465-81.
R. Hingley, The Russian Mind, ch. 2.
D. Levin, Leisure and Pleasure of Soviet Children.

5. Youth Culture

*Smith, H. The Russians, ch. 7.
I. Kon, The Sexual Revolution in Russia, Parts 2, 3.
A. Jones, Soviet Social Problems, ch. 13.
J. Riordan, Soviet Youth Culture, chs. 1 & 3.
Hollander, P. American and Soviet Society, pp. 353-60.
Gagnon, J. and K. Greenblat, Life Designs, pp. 81-8.
G. A. Geyer, The Young Russians, ch. 11.

6. Social Stratification

*Russian Culture at the Crossroads, chs. 6, 10.
*H. Smith, The Russians, ch. 1.
H. Smith, The New Russians, Part 3.
A. Jones, Soviet Social Problems, ch. 8.
Hollander, Soviet and American Society, ch. 6.
Inkeles, A. Social Change in Soviet Russia, chs. 7-9.
Djilas, M. The New Class, pp. 1-69.
Lane, D. The End of Social Inequality?

7. Deviance and Social Control

*Russian Culture at the Crossroads, ch. 2.
*Smith, H. The Russians, ch. 18.
*A. Jones, Soviet Social Problems, ch. 6, 7, 14.
Hollander, P. Soviet and American Society, pp. 304-37.
Connor, W. “The Manufacture of Deviance: the Case of the Soviet Purge,” 1936-1938" American Sociological Review, 1972, 37.
Gliksman, J. "Social prophylaxis as a form of Soviet Terror" pp. 60-73, in C. Friedrich, ed. Totalitarianism.
Moore, B. Jr. Terror and Progress in the USSR, chs. 4-6.
Tokes, R. (ed.) Dissent in the USSR.

8. Family And Sex-Roles

*Russian Culture at the Crossroads, ch. 5.
*Smith, H. The Russians, ch. 5.
*I. Kon, The Sexual Revolution in Russia, chs. 1-3, 4-5, 10-11.
Francine du Plessix Gray, Soviet Women.
A. Jones, Soviet Social Problems, ch. 11, 15.
J. Riordan, Soviet Youth Culture, ch. 3.
Hollander, P. Soviet and American Society, pp. 245-81.
Lane, D. Politics and Society in the USSR , ch. 11.
Field, M. “Workers and mothers: Soviet women today” pp. 7-56 in D. R. Brown ed., The Role and Status of Women in the Soviet Union.
M. Stern and A. Stern, Sex in the USSR, pp. 3-122.  

9. Religion, Ethnicity, and Nationality

*Russian Culture at the Crossroads, ch. 4.
*Smith, H. The Russians, ch. XVII.
Smith, H. The New Russians, Part 4.
Lane, D. Politics and Society in the USSR, ch. 13.
Goldhagen, E. ed. Ethnic Minorities in the Soviet Union.
Allworth, E. ed. Soviet Nationality Problems.

11. Conclusion: Prospects for the Future

*Russian Culture at the Crossroads, ch. 11, conclusion and postscript.
*D. Shalin, handouts provided by the instructor.
Smith, H. The Russians, ch. XX.
Smith, H. The New Russians, Part 5, 6.
Hollander, P. American and Soviet Society, ch. 9
Shalin, D. “Marxist Paradigm and Academic Freedom.” Social Research, 1980, 47:361-82.
Shalin, D. “Sociology for the Glasnost Era.” Social Forces, 1990, 69:1-21.