Russian Studies
The goal of Hamilton’s Russian Studies program is to explore in a deep, interdisciplinary way the language, literature, culture, history, and politics of the Russian-speaking countries of Eurasia.
About the Major
With its innovative curriculum and close student-faculty interactions, Hamilton’s Russian Studies Program focuses on the complexities of this fascinating, and at times mystifying, country that has created some of humanity’s greatest artworks and perpetrated some of its bloodiest crimes. Students in many courses read and evaluate Russian sources in translation; majors are required to develop full proficiency in Russian through extensive language courses. The rigorous curriculum in thinking, speaking, and writing is suited to a variety of fields and interests.
A Sampling of Courses
“The Most Important Art”: Russian, Soviet, and post-Soviet Film
This course will begin by exploring early Soviet masters of montage along with the pioneers of “mass” film who enjoyed greater success with audiences. We will watch films that deal with the experience of World War II and the generational shift that came with Khrushchev’s thaw, as well as arthouse cinema that practiced a more meditative cinematic sensibility. We will consider films that spoke to the excitement and changing values that defined the era of Perestroika and Russia’s post-Soviet experiments with democracy and capitalism before concluding with films that shed light on the neo-authoritarian, neo-imperialist Russia of the present. We will devote attention to films from other countries in the Soviet and post-Soviet world.
Explore these select courses:
An introduction to the Russian language in a contemporary cultural context. Focus on development of speaking skills in real-life situations.
Examines political processes in Russia after the collapse of communism in the former Soviet Union. Central focus on explaining the rise of multi-party democracy in the 1990s and the subsequent consolidation of authoritarian rule under Vladimir Putin. Topics include the creation of political parties, the state’s use of propaganda and the media, the problem of corruption, and the prospects for democracy in the future.
The course will examine Russia’s relations with both its post-Soviet neighbors and the West from the Tsarist era to the present. Topics to be covered include: the formation of the Russian Empire, the Cold War, the evolution of Russian-Western relations since the collapse of communism, Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, and the outbreak of a major war with Ukraine in 2022. A central theme of the course will be the evolution of Russian national identity, especially as it relates to Russia’s status as an empire and its relationship with the West.
The USSR claimed to be a revolutionary political form: a state based on the voluntary union of workers from over 100 different nationalities. The Bolsheviks intended to lead Russian peasants, Kyrgyz nomads and Chechen mountaineers together into the bright Communist future. What they actually achieved is another question. This research seminar explores the concepts of nation, empire and modernization in the Soviet context.
Meet Our Faculty
Sharon Werning Rivera
Sidney Wertimer Professor for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring, Chair and Professor of Government; Director of Russian Studies
Post-communist democratization, the composition of the Russian elite, elite survey research, and the diffusion of ideas
19th-century Russian literature and culture; history of Imperial Russian ethnography; transgression and criminality in literature; language pedagogy
Soviet and post-Soviet society and culture; film, performance; popular music; contemporary poetry; affect; narrative theory; media; Russian political thought; post-socialism
Shoshana Keller
William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of History, Director of Middle East/Islamicate Worlds Studies
Russian and Soviet history, Central Eurasian history, and history of the modern Middle East
The international politics of Eurasia, post-communist democratization, and the composition of the Russian elite
Careers After Hamilton
Hamilton graduates who concentrated in Russian studies are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:
- English Teaching Assistant (Cherepovets, Russian Federation), U.S. Fulbright Program
- Research Specialist, Center for Naval Analysis
- Pediatric Physician, Seattle Children's Hospital
- Senior Attorney, NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct
- Director of Marketing & Communications, World Union for Progressive Judaism
- Occupational Therapist, Mid-Shore Special Education Consortium
- Principal Investment Officer, International Finance Corp.
- Global Health Program Manager, Catholic Medical Mission Board
Explore Hamilton Stories
Kudos! Recent Student Accomplishments
Michael Ko ’25, Mac Donovan ’26, Iris Izydorczak ’25, Tonwa Hauff ’23, and Kate Constan ’26 were recently recognized for representing Team Hamilton well in the Olympics of Spoken and Written Russian.
Because Hamiltonians Support Ukraine: Wyn Pennybacker ’19
When Wyn Pennybacker ’19 was evacuated from Ukraine to Poland by her Fulbright program because of the Russia-Ukraine war, she continued to engage the students she had been teaching and took every opportunity to volunteer locally to help Ukrainian refugees.
Lappalainen ’25, McMahon ’27 Awarded Critical Language Scholarships
Naval Lappalainen ’25 and Xavier McMahon ’27 have been awarded Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) to study Russian this summer. Lappalainen, a double major in history and Russian Studies, from Wilmington, Del., will study in Kyrgyzstan, and McMahon, a double major in world politics and Russian studies from Louisville, Kentucky, will be based in Daugavpils, Latvia.
Contact
Department Name
Russian Studies Program
Contact Name
Sharon Rivera, Program Director
Clinton, NY 13323
