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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

Film Still from Strike

Dreams, Visions and Nightmares: Introduction to Russian Film

Survey of Russian film from its beginnings through the Soviet period to the present. Introduction to Russian culture and to the basic grammar of film analysis. 

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.

Readings of representative works with emphasis on major literary movements, cultural history, and basic literary devices. Primary texts by Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, as well as some critical materials.

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, Professor of Government; Director of Russian Studies

srivera@hamilton.edu

Post-communist democratization, the composition of the Russian elite, elite survey research, and the diffusion of ideas

Jason Cieply

Assistant Professor of Russian Languages and Literatures

jcieply@hamilton.edu

Soviet and post-Soviet society and culture; film, performance; popular music; contemporary poetry; affect; narrative theory; media; Russian political thought; post-socialism

Giulia Dossi

Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian Studies

gdossi@hamilton.edu

Russian language, 19th century Russian literature, history of medicine, affect theory, hysteria

Marianne Janack

John Stewart Kennedy Professor of Philosophy, Acting Chair of the Department of German, Russian, Italian, and Arabic

mjanack@hamilton.edu

epistemology; philosophy of science; philosophy of mind; theories of identity; feminist theory; philosophy and literature; American pragmatism

Shoshana Keller

Chair and William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of History

skeller@hamilton.edu

Russian and Soviet history, Central Eurasian history, and history of the modern Middle East

David Rivera

Associate Professor by Special Appointment

drivera@hamilton.edu

The international politics of Eurasia, post-communist democratization, and the composition of the Russian elite

Explore Hamilton Stories

Alex Statue and Ukrainian Flag

Faculty Share Thoughts on Ukraine/Russia

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears its fourth week, we asked several Hamilton professors, experts in various aspects of the region and the war, to comment on recent events. The situation may have evolved since they shared their perspectives between March 10 and 15.

2022 Endowed Chairs

Seven Faculty Members Appointed to Endowed Chairs

President David Wippman recently announced the appointment of seven Hamilton faculty members to endowed chairs. Shoshana Keller was appointed the William R. Kenan Professor.

John Keirouz '22

Keirouz ’22 Examining Russian Émigré Communities

Inspiration can be found in any number of places. For John Keirouz ’22, it was right at home. The son of a Lebanese immigrant, Keirouz described how he took interest in his father’s desire to stay in touch with his homeland.

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

Contact

Department Name

Russian Studies Program

Contact Name

Sharon Rivera, Program Director

Office Location
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323

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