Course features

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has collapsed the old world order and pushed Europe closer to the brink of war. In the process, Russia has directly challenged the institutions of European and global governance that have supported peace, security and prosperity since the end of World War II.

Led by Sam Greene, Professor of Russian Politics at King’s College London, this course offers an in-depth examination of Russian politics, power structures and foreign policy, from the breakup of the USSR to the present day. This course will also examine why Russia went to war in Ukraine, and the future impact of war on Russian governance, economy and society.

Over five interactive units, this course will:

• Explore the forces that shape decision-making in the Kremlin, and the influence of oligarchs and elite networks in Russian politics and policy

• Investigate the political, economic, and social processes that led to the break-down of Russia’s post-Soviet experiments with democracy and reconciliation with the West

• Examine the ideas, incentives, and calculations that led to war in Ukraine and how ordinary Russian citizens are navigating this period of renewed geo-strategic conflict

• Analyse the perspectives of Ukraine and other societies that emerged from what was the Soviet Union

• Lay the foundation for global decision-makers in government and the private sector to better understand the challenges of working with Russia.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to apply this knowledge to strategic planning, risk assessment, policy development, and cross-border engagement.

Course format

This course is delivered through the edX learning platform and is designed to be completed in approximately 5 hours.

What you'll learn

For policymakers, analysts, business leaders, and students of international affairs, this course will enable you to:

• Learn about contemporary Russian and post-Soviet history
• Understand the evolution of Russia’s political, economic, and social systems
• Examine how power is distributed between the Kremlin, oligarchs, and civil society
• Explore the shifting landscape of ideology and identity in Russian politics and foreign policy
• Understand how Russians’ experiences shape the way they think about the past, present, and future 
• Identify the reasons why efforts at Russian integration with the West failed 
• Gain insight into post-colonial perspectives in Russia’s former empire
• Evaluate the successes and failures of Russia’s efforts to retain influence and control in the region 
• Analyse competing arguments for why Russia went to war in Georgia and Ukraine 
• Assess the challenges Russian policymakers will face after the end of the war in Ukraine 

Entry requirements

No formal requirements. English proficiency recommended (IELTS Level 6).

Further information

King’s College London has partnered with the online education platform edX to deliver self-paced short courses to learners worldwide. Anyone can audit the course materials for free, excluding graded assessments, for a limited time.

For full access to the course, including graded assessments, and to obtain a verified certificate upon successful completion, the USD fee is $249.

The GBP course fee displayed on this page is for illustrative purposes only and subject to change in line with current exchange rates.

Payment for verified access to the course is made directly via edX. Please see edX Terms of Service for further information.