Navigating Identity and Geopolitical Transformations: Ukraine, Belarus, Russia



Overview

The 21st century has brought both challenges and opportunities to international politics, particularly in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. This is most vividly exemplified by unprecedented foreign policy reconfigurations since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This course offers an in-depth exploration of the processes shaping these transformations in Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian identity and political change throughout the 21st century to the present day.

By tracing the causes and consequences of key trends and events from the 1990s to the present, the course will equip you with a critical understanding of the contemporary forces influencing identity and political transformation in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. You will develop the foundations necessary to recognise and assess factors in effect today which are shaping the political landscapes in these countries, as well as their interactions at the wider international level.

The course also introduces disciplinary and interdisciplinary concepts essential to studying these complex phenomena. We will examine key analytical frameworks to understand political and foreign policy developments, shifting international relations, and regional transitions.

No prior knowledge is required and the course serves as a solid foundation for students interested in pursuing further specialisation in this field.

This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.

Programme details

Seminars

Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor.

Sunday

Seminar 1: Current State of Affairs

  • Student group introductions and discussion of interest/background in the topic
  • Establish foundational understanding of the most recent developments in relations between Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia (including at the bilateral level as well as at the regional and international levels).
  • Overview of the latest peace negotiations, Russia-Belarus security treaties, opposition inside Russia, Ukraine relations with NATO and the EU, etc

Seminar 2: In the beginning?: Belarus, Ukraine, Russia

  • Exploration of whether there ever really was a Soviet identity.
  • Immediate breakup of the Soviet Union and the dynamics inside Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia (includes discussion of the Belavezha Accords).
  • The beginning of post-Soviet nation-building, with new constitutions, societal structures, and notions of a promising future.

Monday

Seminar 3: Who, what, and where is the ‘Near Abroad’?

  • Geographical understandings of the area inhabited by Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, and challenging the assumptions that connect them (discuss primary sources).
  • Creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and its functions.
  • The roles and strategies of foreign policy ‘naming’: Eastern Europe, former Soviet Union, Near Abroad, Eurasia

Seminar 4: New Statehood and Early Alliances

  • Why do Belarus and Ukraine have their own states?
  • Discussion of Russian alliances and partnership with the United States and Europe.
  • The Union State: equal alliance or foreign policy tool?

Tuesday

Seminar 5: Revolutions: Are They Revolutionary? (Part I)

  • Discussion of causes, outcomes, actors, and legacies of the Orange Revolution, Jeans/Denim Revolution, Snow Revolution, and Maidan Revolution.
  • Discussion of anti-government, pro-democracy, and anti-war protests
  • How do we distinguish between good and bad revolutions/protests?

Seminar 6: Revolutions: Are They Revolutionary? (Part II)

  • Discussion of theoretical understandings of revolutions, protests, and mass mobilisation.
  • When is a revolution successful? When are protests successful?
  • Debate question: Were the twenty-first century colour revolutions/protests in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine successful? Why or why not?

Wednesday

Seminar 7: Nuclear Powers

  • The Budapest Memorandum: who and what is nuclear?
  • Discussion of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, including international treaties.
  • State nuclear policies and strategy documents, changes in nuclear norms and precedents since 2022, Soviet nuclear legacies (atomic-powered communism).

Seminar 8: Special Anonymous Debate

  • This session is dedicated to an anonymous debate activity on the question: Should Belarus and Ukraine have nuclear weapons?
  • Answers to the above question will be anonymous (no one, including the instructor, will know who has written each answer).

This activity creates a safe space to discuss this important issue in the context of contemporary geopolitical transformations in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

Thursday

Seminar 9: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

  • Review of 2014 annexation of Crimea and war in Donbas region of Ukraine.
  • Analysis of the months/days leading up to the full-scale invasion in 2022.
  • Analysis of the timeline of the conflict since 2022, with deep dives into key battles, attacks, and developments.

Seminar 10: How the Russia-Ukraine Conflict is Redefining the International Order

  • A birds-eye approach to the broader international implications of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
  • Analysis of how war with Russia has positively or negatively affected democratic functioning of the state in Ukraine since 2014.
  • Examination of the role of Belarus in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
  • Challenging assumptions and possibilities about Ukrainian neutrality.

Friday

Seminar 11: Democracy in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia: is it real?

  • Discussion of what we mean by democracy, how we measure it, and why it is important.
  • Analysis of elections in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus 1991 to present.
  • Discussion on concepts of popular opinion, representation, and accountability versus how these factors have functioned in reality in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus.

Seminar 12: Where do we go from here?

  • Analysis and discussion of the latest treaties, international conventions, and bilateral meetings in 2025. What legitimacy do these developments hold? Why?
  • Are Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia real or fake democracies? How do we know/measure this?
  • What role have identities played, and/or continue to play, in the evolution of international relations between Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, and also in their relations at the wider international level?

Programme timetable

The daily timetable will normally be as follows:

Saturday

14.00–16.30 - Registration

16.30–17.00 - Orientation meeting

17.00–17.30 - Classroom orientation for tutor and students

17.30–18.00 - Drinks reception

18.00–20.00 - Welcome dinner

Sunday – Friday

09.00–10.30 - Seminar

10.30–11.00 - Tea/coffee break

11.00–12.30 - Seminar

12.30–13.30 - Lunch

13.30–18.00 - Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.

18.00–19.00 - Dinner (there is a formal gala dinner every Friday to close each week of the programme).

A range of optional social events will be offered throughout the summer school. These are likely to include: a quiz night, visit to historic pubs in Oxford, visit to Christ Church for Evensong and after-dinner talks and discussions.

Fees

Description Costs
Fee Option 1 (Single en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) £2050.00
Fee Option 2 (Double en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person £2100.00
Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) per perso £1680.00
Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation - inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner) £1250.00

Funding

Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those that qualify, more information can be found here.

Unfortunately we do not offer any specific scholarships or funding opportunities for OUSSA programme, but you can visit our departmental funding webpage, where you may be able to find a particular source of funding that matches your requirements alongside meeting the funding criteria.

Payment

All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.

Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

Tuition and meals are included in the programme fee, with both residential and non-residential options available.

Course change administration fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances; however, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.

Payment terms

  • If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking
  • If submitting an application form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date

Cancellations and Refunds

1. Cancellation by you

Participants who wish to cancel must inform the Programme Administrator in writing: by email to oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or by post to OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.

The following cancellation and refund policy applies in all cases:

  • Cancellation within 14 days of online enrolment / payment of fees – full refund of all fees paid.
  • Cancellations received up to and including 30 April 2025 – OUDCE will retain an administration fee of £100 per week booked; all other fees paid will be refunded.
  • Cancellations received between 1-31 May 2025 – OUDCE will retain 60% of the fees paid; the remaining 40% of fees paid will be refunded.
  • Cancellations received on and after 1 June 2025 - no refunds will be made.

2. Cancellation by us

Where there is good reason, OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course by giving you notice in writing at any time before the course is due to start. In these cases, we will endeavour to offer a transfer to another available course if practical and acceptable to you, subject to payment or refund of any difference in the course fees. Alternatively, we will refund the course fees that you have already paid. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred. The status of this course will be reviewed on 1 May 2025. If it is likely that the course may be cancelled, anyone affected will be notified by email within 7 days; if you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2025, you should assume that your course will be running. You may wish to delay finalising your travel arrangements until after this date.

OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course at short notice in exceptional circumstances that would prevent the course from being delivered e.g. tutor illness. In these rare instances, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange a transfer to another available Oxford Experience course. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred.

Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

3. Travel insurance 

The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. You are advised to check cancellation policies carefully and to purchase travel insurance.

Course aims

The aim of the course is to equip students with the analytical tools to critically assess the contemporary influences on foreign policy, identity, and political transformations in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

Teaching methods

The teaching methods used during this course may include:

  • Short lectures/presentations
  • Seminars/group discussions
  • Video Recordings
  • Audio Recordings

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be expected to understand:

  • Key trends in political and foreign policy developments in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia in the twenty-first century and the extent to which these phenomena relate to one another.
  • How to question assumptions both in scholarship and in the analysis process in the study of Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Russian identities.
  • How to nuance Ukrainian identity, Belarusian identity, and Russian identity studies in light of twenty-first century political changes and conflict.

Assessment methods

Participants are required to undertake preparatory reading and complete a pre-course assignment of 1,500 words. Although this does not count towards credit, it is seen as an important way of developing your ideas and is mandatory. The pre-course assignment is typically due in the first week of June.

You will be assessed during the summer school by either a 1,000 word written assignment or a presentation supported by individual documentation. To successfully gain credit (10 CATS points) students should attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment. Participants will attend two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor during the week.

OUSSA is an accredited summer school taught at undergraduate level; each one-week course carries 10 CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) Level 4. Learn more about CATS points.

Certificate of Higher Education

Credit earned from OUSSA can be transferred towards our flexible Certificate of Higher Education.

Study when and where it suits you by gaining credit from short courses, including short online courses, weekly classes and OUSSA, and build your way to an Oxford University award. This part-time undergraduate programme lasts between two and four years depending on how intensively you want to study.  

Find out more about the Certificate of Higher Education.

Application

Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.

Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.

Single accommodation, double room for 1 person and non-residential places may be booked online by clicking on the “Book now” button in the “Course details” box at the top right-hand side of the course page.

Those requiring twin, double or accessible accommodation should complete an enrolment form as these rooms cannot be booked online. Please send the completed enrolment form to the email address below. Both the PDF and Word option of the form below are editable, so you can complete them online before saving and sending to us as an email attachment. You do not need to print and scan them. (Please use these forms only if you are making a twin or double booking for two people.)

Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.

Those who do not wish to register online or who have specific requirements (eg an accessible bedroom) should contact the Programme Administrator directly at oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or OUSSA, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA, UK.

Accommodation

More information about our accommodation can be found here.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support