City As a Narrative: History, Culture and Identity of St. Petersburg

The aim of this online course is to reveal Russian culture, history and politics through looking at St. Petersburg as one of the narratives of Russia’s identity within four dimensions: St. Petersburg “European Identity”; Russia between the West and East; key political metaphors of St. Petersburg collective memory; principal perceptions of St. Petersburg within a changing Russia’s geopolitical landscape. The course aims to take an in-depth look at St. Petersburg within the Russian civilization understood as the conjunction of culture, society, and politics. We examine the intriguing interconnection between St. Petersburg and Russian culture, politics, history, international relations, literature and art.

Course leader

The course is taught by Sergei Akopov, Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor at National Research University Higher School of Economics, main spheres of interest are intellectual history, comparative analysis of political identities.

Target group

This course has no prerequisites.

Course aim

-To teach the students to be able to identify the oeuvre of well-known Russian artists and musicians
-To help the students understand the ideological context of these works as well as learn about popular stereotypes and social behavior within Russian civilization taken at large

Fee info

EUR 220: If you take courses worth 3 ECTS or more in total

The students are required to pay a separate online processing fee (approx. 43 EUR).
EUR 260: If you take courses worth less than 3 ECTS in total

The students are required to pay a separate online processing fee (approx. 43 EUR).