Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2026 - IS 808 G100

Special Topics in Governance and Conflict (4)

Russian Foreign Policies

Class Number: 3454

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 6, 2026: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    VANCOUVER

Description

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Critically evaluate major theoretical and methodological approaches to Russian foreign and security policy, including foreign policy analysis, power, influence, identity, institutions, imperial/decolonial perspectives, regional agency, and world-order debates.
  • Analyze how Russian power and influence are produced, projected, resisted, and constrained across military, ideological, institutional, economic, diplomatic, coercive, informational, regional, and global arenas.
  • Situate current Russian foreign and security policy in relation to imperial, Soviet, post-Soviet, and decolonial debates, with attention to Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Central Asia, the Caucasus, China/Asia, the Global South, and the Arctic/High North.
  • Design and defend a graduate-level research project using scholarly literatures, primary sources, strategic documents, sanctions materials, policy reports, and transparent source/AI logs.
  • Produce advanced written, oral, and professional analysis through seminar leadership, critical reading, evidence-based briefing, simulation work, and an article-style research essay.

Grading

  • Seminar participation and preparedness 10%
  • Graduate seminar leadership 15%
  • Critical reading portfolio 15%
  • Research design package 15%
  • Paper-in-progress presentation and research-process defence 10%
  • Article-style research essay 25%
  • Russian Foreign Policy Lab and policy simulation package 10%

NOTES:

Assessment emphasizes graduate-level preparation, seminar leadership, critical reading, transparent research design, oral defence of work in progress, and an article-style research essay.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

No required textbook purchase is necessary if readings can be supplied electronically through SFU Library Course Reserves. Students may purchase recommended background texts if they prefer personal copies. No physical copy or add-on platform is required.

REQUIRED READING:

Weekly scholarly articles, book chapters, primary sources, policy reports, sanctions documents, and role-specific simulation materials will be provided through Canvas and/or SFU Library Course Reserves.

Graduate students will read more extensively than IS 304 students and will lead discussions connecting core readings to methodological, decolonial, regional, and policy debates.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Tsygankov, Andrei P. Russia's Foreign Policy: Change and Continuity, 7th ed. Bloomsbury Academic, 2025 (recommended conceptual background)

Shiraev, Eric. Russian Foreign Policy, 2nd ed. Bloomsbury Academic, 2026 (baseline/context if adopted for IS 304)
ISBN: 9781350531895

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.