The goals of this course is to study the Russian language electronic media discourse on the most acute issues of politics and society in the post-Communist states. Students will read and translated journalistic, analytical, and sociological overviews of such issues as ethnic conflicts, state-society relations and perceptions, US-Russia relations, NATO-Russia relations, national identity, corruption, and evolution of post-Soviet societies. Students will hone their presentation skills, expand their vocabulary, and analytical writing skills. An effort will be made to improve students’ understanding of cultural and historical factors driving political changes in modern Eurasia.