State and Society in Central Asia and the Caucasus
Key information
- Status
- Module not running
- Module code
- 15PPOH022
- FHEQ Level
- 7
- Credits
- 15
- Department
- Department of Politics and International Studies
Module overview
This module will analyze the key aspects of Soviet-era transformation and post-Soviet transition in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan) and the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia).
The module aims to enable students to acquire an in-depth knowledge and understanding of critical issues of state-society relations in the region such as: the contradictions between nation and state building; politics of Islam, culture, ethnicity, and gender; the patterns of resistance and compliance; the relationship between formal and informal institutions; the consolidation of neopatrimonial regimes and their fragility, and debates on indigenous versus neoliberal conceptions of democracy and civil society. By developing a comprehensive understanding of the encounters between Soviet legacy and post-socialist transition, the module will enable the students to assess and engage in a comparison of the divergent trajectories of post-Soviet transition in the region.
Objectives and learning outcomes of the module
- A broad understanding of the nature of state and society in the region
- An appreciation of the shared Russian and Soviet legacy as well as different cultural, socio-economic and developmental trajectories in Central Asia and the Caucasus
- A critical understanding of processes aiding post-Soviet transition and hampering it
- An analytical perspective that questions the prevalent myths and stereotypes about the region
- An in-depth inquiry into a topic of their interest pertaining to the region
- The ability to apply social science concepts and theories to analyse political developments in the region
Workload
- Two-hour seminar per week
Method of assessment
- Assignment 1: 20%
- Assignment 2: 80%
Disclaimer
Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules