This course offers an introduction to Russian sociological data as a window into contemporary Russian society, politics, and culture. The course equips students with the analytical and linguistic tools necessary to navigate authentic Russian-language survey materials, statistical tables, and polling reports produced by leading Russian research organizations such as the Levada Center, VTsIOM, and FOM. Students will develop specialized vocabulary in the fields of sociology, demography, and public opinion research.



A central aim of the course is to cultivate students’ ability to interpret sociological findings critically and situate them within the broader landscape of Russian domestic and foreign affairs. Each week, students will analyze current polling data — on topics ranging from public attitudes toward the war in Ukraine, state institutions, and national identity to everyday concerns such as economic well-being, migration, and social values — and prepare concise Russian-language overviews synthesizing key findings. By the end of the semester, students will be able to understand sociological materials with confidence and articulate connections between public opinion trends and Russia’s evolving political trajectory.