PSIR333 STATES AND SOCIETIES IN CENTRAL ASIA
| Course Code: | 3540333 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | Political Science and International Relations |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Assoc.Prof.Dr. REBECCA BRYANT |
| Offered Semester: | Fall or Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
The principal aim of this course is to provide the students o with the necessary tools and methods (main theoretical models and debates in area studies) when studying the region. It also aims to offer to the students of the region not only a comprehensive conceptualization of the concept of Central Asia but also some essential and basic knowledge about each country both in a historical context and in the light of current developments and transformations.
The course will first cover the state of Soviet Studies –Sovietology-, transition (transitology) and post-Soviet studies (Post-Sovietology). The main aim here is to provide knowledge on the main theoretical and methodological debates and main paradigms on how to study Soviet and post-Soviet states. Secondly, main research strategies and techniques for the study of post-Soviet transition will be identified. Thirdly, this course will focus on each Central Asian country including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzhstan, and Turkmenistan covering the diverse ethnic, geographical/strategic, demographic, political, cultural and societal similarities and/or differences of each country with a comparative dimension.
Readings and discussions of essential background materials and the critical evaluation of the materials on the basis of each Central Asian country will consist of the core of the course.
Course Content
This course is designed as an undergraduate level interdisciplinary introduction to the states and societies of the contemporary Central Asia. Fundamentally, the course aims to shed light on the post-Soviet developments in the region by a critical reading of the politics, economy, society and culture of Central Asia since Russian colonization. The organization of the course includes two parts. The first part aims to familiarize the student with socio-political and cultural transformations experienced by the people of Central Asia under the colonial rule of tsarist Russia and the Soviet Union. Thn the course proceeds to discuss major issue areas that have been taking shape in the post-Soviet Central Asia and dominating the scholarly debate in the field of Central Asia Studies. The course will consist of lectures, reading assignments, class discussions and film representations. No special knowledge of the region on the par of students is presumed.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course students will:
a) Have a good general knowledge of the major approaches to the study and analysis of post-Soviet period, theoretical and methodological debates on post-Soviet transition.
b) Have basic introductory knowledge on each post-Soviet Central Asian country.
c) Be able to identify similarities and differences among Central Asian states and societies.
d) Develop oral and written skills.
The course will engage in interactive discussions. The focus will be on fostering conceptual and critical thinking, developing logical, coherent and well-supported arguments and elaborating on ideas and concepts. The course will also help students to do research and to write research essays using library and internet resources.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Having academic knowledge in Political Science and International relations disciplines | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Developing an interdisciplinary perspective incorporating other areas of the social sciences as well | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Being capable of evaluating political, economic and social matters at local, national and international levels | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Being capable of making sense of, follow and analyze political, economic and social events | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Being sensitive to global, environmental and social problems | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Developing a critical mind capable of making constructive criticisms, open to lifelong learning, researching, inquiring, questioning and problems solving | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Being capable of individual work, entrepreneur, good time management and able to actively take part in group work for common purposes | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Having effective communication skills in Turkish and English languages | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Being capable of using communication technologies in reaching to information and organizing and presenting this information in a systematic way | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution