OSHER 20 - Russia Beyond Russians

This course will focus on recent events in Russia and the post-Soviet space, many aspects of which are a result of enduring ethnic tensions: the Russian Federation alone is home to 180 nationalities, many of which have long been at odds with each other. We shall see that many groups have been significantly diminished by the uniformity-seeking policies of the Russian state, first under the Tsars, then under the Soviets, and most recently under President Vladimir Putin. Many groups still carry the collective memories of the atrocities that were committed against them in the past and most such groups seek to gain recognition, autonomy, or even full independence. This quest ranges from the peaceful Circassian movement to the much more violent Chechen resistance. To shed light on the current events, we will review the history of Russia and its various ethno-linguistic groups and examine elements of contemporary Russian culture such as music, cinema, cuisine, ethnic jokes, and more.