This course examines center-periphery relations in the Russian Federation in a broader perspective. The first part of the course surveys some important aspects of political, economic and cultural geography of contemporary Russia. During the course particular attention will be paid to the meanings and character of Russia’s borders. We will consider how, to what extent and through what kind of mechanisms issues such as abundance and location of energy resources, climate, size of the country’s territory and interregional interactions influence the building and functioning in institutions in Russia.

There are three main goals of this course. First, the class will provide a survey of the recent literature on the concept of civil war as well as the origins, dynamics, end, and post-war transitions of this phenomenon. Second, each student will adopt one civil war and explore it in depth, both learning the details of their specific war, and learning how to apply the analytical framework and theory you learn in this course to a particular civil war of your choosing. Students will also learn broadly about other civil wars in the post-WWII period through readings in the syllabus. The course will draw attention to civil wars in the post-Soviet region. Third, students will learn critical thinking and writing skills, which will be developed through the on-line discussions and weekly assignments.

The course is designed by the faculty of the Department of International Economic Organizations and European Integration for graduate students.

The course examines the EU’s role in international arena, its external relations and foreign policy by geographical areas. Equally an approach to the institutions functioning in foreign policy and security and defence policy is included. Within this framework, it tries to outline the EU strengths and weaknesses as international actor, its impact on world governance and on international issues relevant to European interests as well as the global financial crisis consequences on its international role.

The course takes stock of the following issues: benefits and drawbacks of liberalization and state interference in energy; the security of supply and demand; cooperation in energy efficiency and the development of renewable sources of energy. All these aspects are examined both in general and in the context of the EU's and Russian energy policies as well as their relations in this field. The course also reviews patterns of interaction of various EU and Russian public and private actors. EU-Russian energy relations are analyzed and explored in both bilateral and multilateral contexts. The course facilitates the development of necessary skills to analyze the dynamics of EU-Russian relations, and to construct prognoses of their future developments. It consists of lectures, discussions, and a role play simulation, i.e. relies to a considerable degree on active methods of learning.

This course is designed to offer an in-depth study of the EU-Russia relationship. It will look at the history of that relationship and analyse its legal and analytical framework. The course is designed to cover EU-Russia relations under multiple angles (such as the role of values and interests, the influence of the relations between Russia and individual member-states) and in a number of spheres and dimensions (global politics, the relations on the post-soviet space, security, energy, transport). It will also address the current development of the relationship and key issues and problems, such as the negotiations of a new strategic partnership treaty, the prospects of the non-visa regime and the partnership for modernisation project.

This course, apart from covering economic development in historical retrospective, focuses on the most recent economic developments, including those after 2008-2010 world economic crisis, and is based on analysis of the crucial issues for the Russian economy.

The course combines theoretical and practical parts. It starts with examination of the major concepts and theories of Global governance, developed mainly after the end of the Cold War, and also analyzed the concept and idea of Global Governance through the prism of classic theories of International Relations and traditional theoretical concepts of international order and regulation. A detailed study of Global Governance developed by one of its main classics – James Rosenau – is provided. Classifications of types, structures and missions of Global Governance are explored.

This multidisciplinary course covers a complex of themes defining the today and the future of Post-Soviet Eurasia. Processes shaping the former Soviet Union or the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Russia and the newly independent states of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. Economic and political models since the break-up of the USSR. Changing geopolitics of post-Soviet Eurasia: political regimes, economic development, security, energy relationships, post-Soviet societies, religion, and globalization. Analysis of the opportunities and challenges for political, economic, and military cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Likelihood of SCO’s aspirations being realized and the potential of its becoming a political and military counterbalance to the West. Issues related to national security and security perceptions of post-Soviet states and China, their economic and energy ambitions and needs, and the role of external players in the region.

We are in the middle of an unprecedented shift in wealth and power away from the West and towards the countries of the developing world. How will this dramatic shift in power affect international relations? Are we headed towards an era of increased instability and great power conflict? Or will the rise of the developing world increase economic equality and political representation at the level of global politics? This class will explore these and other questions through the lens of international relations theory. We will focus on the five major rising powers: Brazil, Russia, India China and South Africa (colloquially known as the BRICS), looking at the domestic and international factors that are behind their rise and the impact they have had on major areas of international politics. We will also look at the approaches they take to major 21st Century policy questions, such as terrorism, economic development, climate change, and reform to international financial institutions after the latest economic crisis.

This course explores the origins and evolution of U.S. foreign policy with an emphasis on the changes and continuities since World War I.

The course is aimed at providing a systematic understanding of the challenges facing by the welfare states in affluent and emerging economies, and of the directions of the transformation of the welfare states around the world in XXI century.

This course will introduce students to the broad questions motivating the academic field of international political economy: Whose interests are served by the liberalization of trade and finance? What impact can multilateral organizations like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization have on the economic policies of member states and the functioning of the global economy? What determines the policies or rules promoted by these organizations? What motivates foreign aid policies? What is “globalization”? How can we assess its impacts on different countries and populations?