Russia’s Cultural Statecraft, 5 op

During the course, Russia and Russia’s foreign policy are examined through the concept of cultural statecraft. The course discusses and analyzes how culture has been used to promote Russia's foreign policy interests and what kind of political dimension and potential culture has. The cases presented in the course focus on cultural activities that occurred outside Russia's national borders. The course is taught in English.

The course is based on the book ‘Russia's Cultural Statecraft’, published by Routledge in 2022. The themes of the lectures are mostly based on the book's chapters written by Russia experts.

After taking the course, the student can explain what is meant by the concept of cultural statecraft and apply the concept in their own research. The student can identify and analyze examples of cultural statecraft and elaborate on the examples' weaknesses and strengths.

The course enables the development of students' teamwork abilities as well as argumentation and critical thinking skills. The course also supports the competence to work independently (by writing a learning diary or essay).

PROGRAMME

8.3. Tuomas Forsbeg ja Sirke Mäkinen: Introduction to Russia's Cultural Statecraft.

15.3. Sirke Mäkinen: Higher Education as a Tool for Cultural Statecraft?

22.3. Julia Bethwaite: Fine Arts and International Relations: Russian Museum Diplomacy

29.3. Elina Viljanen: Soviet Legacies and Global Contexts: Classical Music and Russia’s Cultural Statecraft

5.4. Mari Pajala: Stagecraft in the Service of Statecraft? Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest

12.4. Pia Koivunen: International Events in the Service of Cultural Statecraft: The Sochi Olympics and the World Festival of Youth and Students

19.4. Pallavi Pal: Russia's Nuclear Diplomacy

26.4. Lina Klymenko: Forging Common History: Russia’s Cultural Statecraft and the Soviet Second World War Monuments in Europe

3.5. Tuomas Forsberg: Sport as Cultural Statecraft: Russia and the Kontinental Hockey League