DYNM 788 - The New Russia:Foe,Competitor or Ally

Institution:

University of Pennsylvania

Subject:

Description:

Steiner. Churchill's famous adagio about Russia being "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" seems as valid today as it was in 1939 when it was coined. From George W. Bush's looking into Vladimir Putin's eyes and getting a sense of his soul to Sarah Palin's seeing the same man as rearing his head and threatening the secuirty of Alaska, US politicans seems to have a great deal of difficulties in calibrating their attitude toward the country which has ceased to be "the evil empire" already some fifteen years ago. Is the new Russia, seeking to extend its sphere of influence over the now independent former Soviet states, a military challenge to NATO Is it an economic competitor in the global game in which the control of vital energy resources isat stake Or is it an indispensable ally in "the war on terrorism" without whose support the world cannot become safe . A week-long seminar which will take place in Moscow in the first half of June, 2009, will attempt to answer these questions by inviting Russian academic experts, business leaders, politicians and journalists for an in-depth discussion of the following general topics: 1) Russia today (the post-Communist transformation; the current political climate; politics and bsuiness; the control of media). 2) Russia and the world (relations with the great powers: USA, the EU and China; relations with its immediate neighbors: Ukraine, Georgia, and the Baltic states). 3) Russia's energy sector (a role in the global energy market; security vs transparency; ecology and alternative fuels). 4) Russia's financial sector (stock market; stability of the ruble; oversight of the banking industry; foreign capital). 5) Russia tomorrow (educational system; demographic trends; airspace industry; mineral wealth of Siberia and the Arctic).

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.upenn.edu

Phone Number:

(215) 898-5000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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