Russian For Wonks: Elections and Voting
Political scientists studying a foreign country must be able to understand its politics at a local level. How do elections function? What motivates voters? What…
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The following bilingual resources are designed to teach Russian vocabulary to students interested in geopolitics and/or international relations. They integrate language with real-world concepts, and are designed for intermediate to advanced language learners. For students planning to attend SRAS study abroad programs focused on IR or security, these should also be excellent primers.
Russian for Wonks: International Relations and Related Issues
In international relations (IR), language is more than a tool. Language, along with culture and history, is central to most national identities. Demonstrating genuine engagement…
Russian for Wonks: Travel Documents, Infrastructure, and Lingo
Russian remains in wide use across the Eurasian space, although its role varies. Each country has its own language in wide and proud usage. However,…
Russian for Wonks: Demographics and Childbirth
Russian demographics have been a major policy issue for the Russian state since its formation in 1991. As the population continues to age and fertility…
Russian for Wonks: The Geopolitics of Summer Camp
For many Russian children, summer camp is a cherished rite of passage—an escape from school routines into a world of bonfires, games, and shared songs….
Renting in Russia: Language, Legalities, and Culture
The word for “landlord” in Russian is actually the same as the word for “host” – . Renting in Russia, whether apartments or rooms, comes…
Russian MiniLessons: Холодная война – The Cold War
The following bilingual Russian MiniLesson is meant to build your vocabulary by providing Russian phrases within English text. Hover over the bold Russian to reveal…
The Dacha in Modern Russian History and Legislation
The Russian word “дача” is often translated into English as “summer residence” or “cottage,” but the best translation is simply a transliteration to English: “dacha.”…
Apartments in Russia: 1917 – Present
When the Soviets took over Russia, it was a mostly rural, agricultural country. Most Russians lived in smaller villages and towns in traditional housing units….
Russian for Wonks: Sanctions-Related Russian Vocabulary
Sanctions against Russia have been a complex and ever-changing US-led effort. Some other countries, most prominently the EU, have also enacted sanctions, but there is…
Russian for Wonks: Russian Labor Market
This resource is intended to serve as a map for the Russian labor market both in terms of official and unofficial labor practices and with…
Russian MiniLessons: Крым: хронология событий – A Crimean Timeline
The following bilingual Russian MiniLesson is meant to build your vocabulary by providing Russian phrases within English text. Hover over the bold Russian to reveal…
Russian MiniLessons: Civil War in Syria
The <strong>сирийский</strong> <strong>кризис</strong> (Syrian crisis) is a conflict between <strong>п</strong><strong>овстанцы</strong> (rebels) who are seeking to <strong>свергнуть</strong> <strong>правительство</strong> (oust the government) and <strong>проправительственные</strong> <strong>силы</strong> (pro-government forces)….
Russian MiniLessons: Землетрясения и российской помощи – Earthquakes and Russian Foreign Aid
The following bilingual Russian MiniLesson is meant to build your vocabulary by providing Russian phrases within English text. Hover over the bold Russian to reveal…
Russian MiniLessons: Ссориться по-русски – Fighting in Russian
The following bilingual Russian MiniLesson is meant to build your vocabulary by providing Russian phrases within English text. Hover over the bold Russian to reveal…
Russian MiniLessons: Armed Forces – Вооружённые силы
Note, the following excerpt was written by Dr. Lawerence Mansour, West Point. It was originally published in The Russian Context: The Culture behind the Language, edited…