31401

Faces of Power: Politics of Post-Soviet Eurasia through Individual Biographies

Alexander Libman, Guram Kvaratskhelia

Kommentar

The seminar is conceived as a survey of major political developments in the post-Communist era. We examine authoritarianism, the legacies of the Soviet system, and the challenges of democratization. We explore liberal economic reforms, technocracy, energy politics, and the entrenchment of oligarchic power. We also analyze various forms of political (dis)integration, including nationalism, competing regionalisms, disruption, and secession. Interdisciplinary in nature, the seminar bridges political science and area studies. Each week, students engage with a theoretical or empirical text alongside material on a prominent political figure who embodies or sheds light on the topic under discussion. To obtain a certificate of participation (Teilnahmeschein), students are required to submit two discussion questions based on the weekly reading. To earn a certificate of achievement (Leistungsschein), students must write a term paper on one of the seminar topics, focusing on a political figure not covered in the weekly readings.Why are some social and political movements successful, while others gradually fade away? What political opportunities and constraints do enduring features of political systems present for collective actors? And how are these shaped by shifting or temporary changes in political environments? Who participates in collective struggles, and why? How do collective actors choose their tactics and strategies, and what role do diffusion and learning play in shaping their approaches? These are some of the key questions that guide the study of contentious politics—a field that seeks to provide rigorous, social-scientific explanations for various forms of collective political struggle. This includes, but is not limited to, revolutions, social and political movements, strike waves, and nationalist mobilization. At the heart of the contentious politics literature is the idea that comparing different forms of collective action yields deeper insights into their dynamics and functioning than treating each as a separate phenomenon. This seminar introduces students to the core concepts and theoretical frameworks of contentious politics, with a focus on empirical studies of popular contention in the post-Soviet space. We will examine events such as the “color revolutions” in Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan; the Maidan protests; the 2011–2012 Russian protests; as well as environmental movements and LGBTQI+ rights campaigns. The primary goal of the seminar is to equip students with the tools to think critically and analytically about the complex and multifaceted nature of popular contention. Schließen

14 Termine

Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung

Mi, 14:00 - 16:00 14 Termine

Mi, 16.04.2025 14:00 - 16:00

Dozenten:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Alexander Libman
Guram Kvaratskhelia