Russia and Her Conflicts: History, Literature, and Film

Winston Churchill famously characterized Russia as a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." As war rages on in Ukraine, many are left wondering: why is Russia so hostile to her neighbors and the West? This course examines the origins of Russia's foreign and domestic conflicts - from Ivan the Terrible to Vladimir Putin - by examining a wide variety of literature, autobiography, film, art, and historical documents. Topics include: Russian imperialism in Europe, the Caucuses, and Siberia, the Russian Revolution, World War II, the Gulag, and the war in Ukraine. Course and all readings are in English.