210126 VO M9: SpezialVO East European Studies (2018W)

Almost thirty years after the disintegration of the USSR, the former Soviet republics demonstrate increasingly diverse trajectories of political development. However, in all of the post-Soviet countries the new national elites use historical narratives, myths and symbols as important instruments of nation building to forge a sense of historical continuity and common cultural identity. Post-Soviet societies also face a challenge of dealing with the Soviet legacy of state violence in order to restore social trust and build a democratic system of government. State-sponsored politics of history as well as grassroots initiatives coming from various mnemonic actors and communities of memory increasingly re-shape the political landscape in post-Soviet countries while disputes about the past have growing impact on the interstate relations in the region. The aim of this course is to introduce students into the main concepts and approaches used in studies of memory politics (e.g. memory regime, transitional justice, mnemonic security) and to deepen their knowledge about political processes in the post-Soviet space. The course focuses on Russia, Ukraine and Belarus but examples from the Baltic States, South Caucasus and Central Asia will also be used.
Each session will consist of a one-hour lecture followed by a discussion. To pass the course, regular attendance is highly recommended.