Scholars Online: Videos for Readings
Russia's Transformation: Challenges for U.S. Policy
The printed curriculum unit Russia’s Transformation: Challenges for U.S. Policy has students consider the U.S. relationship with Russia and its neighbors. The unit surveys the history of U.S.-Russia relations and considers the economic problems and political crises that have shaped the outlook of (shaped Russia in recent decades. (See detailed description and ordering information.)
Videos for Readings: The videos below follow the outline of the printed curriculum unit. The headings correspond to the headings in the student readings.
Videos for Lessons accompany lessons in the teacher's guide of the printed curriculum unit.
Scholars
Patricia Herlihy
Brown University
P. Terrence Hopmann
Brown University
Mark Garrison
Brown University
Douglas Blum
Brown University
Introduction: A New Russia
How did the end of the Cold War change international relations? [P. Terrence Hopmann – 1:21]
Part I: Exploring Russia’s Past
The Birth of the Soviet Union
Why was Lenin a successful politician? [Patricia Herlihy – 1:37]
Containing Soviet Expansion
Nuclear Standoff
U.S.-Soviet Détente
Gorbachev’s New Thinking
How was Gorbachev different from other Soviet leaders? [Mark Garrison – 2:29]
What factors contributed to the demise of the Soviet Union? [Doug Blum – 2:33]
Part II: Inside the New Russia: Political and Economic Change
A New Russia
How did Russians view Boris Yeltsin? [Patricia Herlihy – 1:51]
How did the Russian people view Boris Yeltsin? [Douglas Blum – 1:39]
What were the effects of shock therapy? [Patricia Herlihy – 1:38]
How did the oligarchs get control of Russian industries? [Patricia Herlihy – 1:27]
President Putin
What changes did Vladimir Putin make during his presidency? [Douglas Blum – 3:01]
Current Challenges
How has Russian society changed since the end of the Soviet Union? [Patricia Herlihy – 2:02]
Why is Russia’s population shrinking? [Patricia Herlihy – 2:33]
What are the most pressing domestic issues in Russia? [Patricia Herlihy – 2:00]
What role do Russia’s energy resources play in international politics? [Douglas Blum – 2:06]
Part III: Russia and the United States
Russia’s Nuclear Weapons
What were the key U.S. concerns after the end of the Soviet Union? [Mark Garrison – 1:33]
U.S.-Russia Relations
What is the Russian perspective on NATO expansion? [Douglas Blum – 2:51]
Russia and the “Near Abroad”
How do Russia’s neighbors regard Russia? [Douglas Blum – 1:59]
What is Russia’s relationship with Ukraine? [Patricia Herlihy – 2:20]
What are the implications of proposed NATO expansion to Ukraine and Georgia? [Mark Garrison – 1:47]
