Description
More than twenty years ago, when Vladimir Putin became President of Russia, few would have expected his reign to become so turbulent – with a lasting impact on the global community. During this six-week course, we will examine the narrative timeline of Putin’s presidency and confront several difficult questions about his tenure as president.
We will discuss Putin’s impact on the Russian economy, his fan base, the elites he is surrounded by, the repressive nature of his government, his manipulation of mass media sources, and his shifts in foreign policy throughout his time in office.
Led by an expert in modern Russian History, this course will be focused on studying Vladimir Putin’s time in office. Lecture details are provided below.
Please note that this is not a biographical course, and it will not cover the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. If you are interested in a biography of the man’s life or Context Seminars pertaining to the tragic Russian-Ukrainian military conflict, please click here to explore those alternative events.
We will discuss Putin’s impact on the Russian economy, his fan base, the elites he is surrounded by, the repressive nature of his government, his manipulation of mass media sources, and his shifts in foreign policy throughout his time in office.
Led by an expert in modern Russian History, this course will be focused on studying Vladimir Putin’s time in office. Lecture details are provided below.
Please note that this is not a biographical course, and it will not cover the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. If you are interested in a biography of the man’s life or Context Seminars pertaining to the tragic Russian-Ukrainian military conflict, please click here to explore those alternative events.
Lectures
Lecture One – The Russian Economy from 2000-2022
Our time together will begin with a foundational background to the operations of Putin’s economic tactics. Since he took office at the turn of the century, Russian citizens and global leaders have observed oligarchs and state representatives controlling the economy like never before. We will also discuss sanctions that have been placed on Russia by global leaders.
Lecture Two – Putin's Loyal Followers and the Election Process
Our second session will address questions about how elections work in Russia, who votes for Putin, and when the elections first became fraudulent.
Lecture Three – Executive Officers and the Elite Class of Russia
Russian oligarchs and top officials lead state-owned companies, creating a tremendous conflict of interest. These offices of power are granted by Putin. During this lecture, we will address how these men and women impact Russian politics and their motives for supporting Putin. Key questions we will discuss are: Are there grey cardinals in the Russian political landscape? Who can be Putin’s successor?
Lecture Four – Repression of the Opposition
During our fourth week together, we will examine anti-opposition laws and their enforcement. We will discuss the ways in which Russian authorities have consolidated their sources of power and repressed voices of anyone speaking out against the President.
Lecture Five – Controlling the Narrative
We will discuss the role of mass media in contemporary Russian society. Western sources of news, such as Facebook, have been eliminated. Therefore, is Russia headed towards totalitarianism or authoritarianism?
Lecture Six – Recent Wars and Foreign Policy Shifts
During our final week together, we will examine how Putin's rule shifted from positioning Russia as an ally of NATO, to provoking war with Ukraine – the largest military conflict Europe has seen since 1945. We will discuss several turning points throughout the duration of Putin's rule and how these shifts are being presented to the Russian public.
Our time together will begin with a foundational background to the operations of Putin’s economic tactics. Since he took office at the turn of the century, Russian citizens and global leaders have observed oligarchs and state representatives controlling the economy like never before. We will also discuss sanctions that have been placed on Russia by global leaders.
Lecture Two – Putin's Loyal Followers and the Election Process
Our second session will address questions about how elections work in Russia, who votes for Putin, and when the elections first became fraudulent.
Lecture Three – Executive Officers and the Elite Class of Russia
Russian oligarchs and top officials lead state-owned companies, creating a tremendous conflict of interest. These offices of power are granted by Putin. During this lecture, we will address how these men and women impact Russian politics and their motives for supporting Putin. Key questions we will discuss are: Are there grey cardinals in the Russian political landscape? Who can be Putin’s successor?
Lecture Four – Repression of the Opposition
During our fourth week together, we will examine anti-opposition laws and their enforcement. We will discuss the ways in which Russian authorities have consolidated their sources of power and repressed voices of anyone speaking out against the President.
Lecture Five – Controlling the Narrative
We will discuss the role of mass media in contemporary Russian society. Western sources of news, such as Facebook, have been eliminated. Therefore, is Russia headed towards totalitarianism or authoritarianism?
Lecture Six – Recent Wars and Foreign Policy Shifts
During our final week together, we will examine how Putin's rule shifted from positioning Russia as an ally of NATO, to provoking war with Ukraine – the largest military conflict Europe has seen since 1945. We will discuss several turning points throughout the duration of Putin's rule and how these shifts are being presented to the Russian public.
About Your Expert
Vadim is a historian (MA) who has graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University. His focus is contemporary Russian history. He is working on a PhD dissertation on Stalin's national policy.
FAQ
How does it work?
This is a six-part course held weekly and hosted on Zoom. Please check the schedule for the specific dates and times for each lecture. Respectful dialogue will be paramount.
When will I receive the Zoom link?
Your link to enter the Zoom room will be the same for all six sessions. It will be sent to the email address used to place your order 30 minutes prior to each lecture's start time.
Is there a reading list in advance?
Though the course is open to participants with no background on this topic, there are suggested readings for further investigation. These will be provided at the course's conclusion.
How long are the lectures?
Each lecture is 60 minutes long with time for Q&A.
How much is the course?
The course is $210 USD for six lectures.
Is a recording available?
Yes. All registered participants will be sent a recording within 24 hours of each session's conclusion. The recordings are available to re-watch at leisure until 30 days after the course's conclusion.
Are there additional seminars, courses, and in-person experiences being led on this topic?
Yes. Our Context Experts will be leading several virtual experiences in the coming weeks. Details are available here.
Yes. All registered participants will be sent a recording within 24 hours of each session's conclusion. The recordings are available to re-watch at leisure until 30 days after the course's conclusion.
Are there additional seminars, courses, and in-person experiences being led on this topic?
Yes. Our Context Experts will be leading several virtual experiences in the coming weeks. Details are available here.
Audience
Not suitable for children under age 13 (sensitive content).
Duration
60 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.