Russian History: from Lenin to Putin

Instructor: Peter Kenez

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

819 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

819 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Explain the origins and development of the Russian state and people.
Apply theories of politics and society to Russian History.
Evaluate the impact of a series of Soviet and Russian leaders on the word.

Skills you'll gain

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Assessments

3 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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There are 3 modules in this course

In this course, Peter Kenez, Professor Emeritus at UC Santa Cruz, explains the events of modern Russian history and introduces its most significant actors—from Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin.

What's included

12 videos1 assignment2 discussion prompts

12 videosTotal 190 minutes

Introduction to the Course10 minutes
Formation of the Russian State17 minutes
The Industrial Revolution14 minutes
The February Revolution17 minutes
The Provisional Government18 minutes
The October Revolution17 minutes
Consequences of the Revolution16 minutes
The One-Party State16 minutes
Economy, society, & culture of the 1920s17 minutes
Collectivization19 minutes
Industrialization16 minutes
Terror11 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Quiz 130 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

What if the revolution had happened somewhere else?10 minutes
What made Russia what it is today?10 minutes

What's included

8 videos1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 123 minutes

Prelude to the Great Patriotic War14 minutes
The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact10 minutes
German Invasion of the Soviet Union18 minutes
Partisans, Collaborators, & Racial Distinction14 minutes
The Soviet Union and the Allies10 minutes
Dissipation of Hope19 minutes
Material Devastation18 minutes
Life without Stalin18 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Quiz 230 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

What was Stalin's impact?10 minutes

What's included

13 videos1 assignment1 peer review2 discussion prompts

13 videosTotal 203 minutes

Khrushchev's Reforms19 minutes
"We will bury you!"17 minutes
Adventures in Foreign Policy18 minutes
Andropov, Chernenko, and Gorbachev17 minutes
Perestroika11 minutes
Changing the Soviet Stance14 minutes
The Collapse of the Soviet Union11 minutes
Shock Therapy17 minutes
The Rise of the Oligarchs15 minutes
Why Putin?17 minutes
The New Political Order23 minutes
Putin's Foreign Policy22 minutes
Understanding Russians2 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Quiz 330 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Essay on Contemporary Russia60 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Why did the Soviet Union collapse?10 minutes
What is Russia's role?10 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(228 ratings)

Peter Kenez

University of California, Santa Cruz

3 Courses78,111 learners

Offered by

University of California, Santa Cruz

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Showing 3 of 819

Reviewed on Sep 15, 2020

I found that course had a central theme, the incompatibility of the Communist structures with an increase in the standard of living, that was well documented from the time of Lenin to that of Putin.

Reviewed on Dec 17, 2017

Mr Kenez is making a remarkable presentation of Russian history. Very structured and balanced. Impressive knowledge. Thanks for a very interesting course.

Reviewed on May 9, 2022

This was one of the best courses I've ever taken! I'm incredibly grateful that it was free, and I'm so glad I took the time to watch all of the lectures. The professor is amazing!

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