Starting with the collapse of the Soviet Union, we will analyze how Russia has re-emerged as a global actor and shaped its relations with Europe, India, the Middle East, and China. The course explores concepts such as the “Russian World,” de facto states, and the Soviet legacy. It also investigates major conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh, within broader historical and strategic contexts. Additionally, it addresses memory politics surrounding World War II and Russia’s engagement with international law and institutions like the ICC and ICJ, providing insight into its foreign policy and global ambitions.

Coordinator

Nevenka Tromp

Timetable

You can find the timetable on Datanose.

Entry requirements

Open to second-year and third-year UvA Bachelor's students and other interested parties, such as contract students or students from other Dutch higher education institutions. Master's students can only participate if there are still spots available.

Registration

UvA Bachelor's students can register from 8 to 15 June 2026 in the GLASS registration rounds. Master’s students can send a short motivation to keuzeonderwijs-iis@uva.nl.

‘Bijvak’ students and contract students can register from 8 June 2026 until two weeks prior to the start of the course, by completing the online registration form.

If you have any trouble while registering, please contact us at keuzeonderwijs-iis@uva.nl.

Please note: as a contract student you can choose to participate either including or excluding assessment. If you choose the latter, you only have access to the seven lectures of the course. If you also wish to attend the seminars, please choose 'including assessment'.

Costs

Prices can be found on the IIS website.

SDGs in education

The IIS strives to reflect current societal issues and challenges in our elective courses, honours modules and degree programmes and attempts to integrate the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in this course. For more information about these goals, please visit the SDGs website.