History of a Bipolar World: Russia and the US in the 20th-21st Centuries

This graduate course, intended for students interested in history, is centered on the study of global economic, social, political, and cultural processes examined through the prism of interaction between the US and USSR. Of principal importance is the attempt to understand whether the 20th century was indeed bipolar, although naturally such powerful centers as the USSR and US had a serious influence on the development of historical processes. The controversial nature of the problem creates an essential basis for graduate students to work out their own independent judgments, which will be evaluated in discussion, trainings, and the exchange of opinions. In the course of examining these issues, we will consider how and to what extent the historical legacy of the 20th century has carried over and been preserved in the current century.