IIR Teaching Resources: Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia

Books
Reviewed by Elizabeth Talbot

Corrigan, Jim. Kazakhstan. Harmon, Daniel E. Kyrgyzstan. Robbins, Gerald. Azerbaijan. “The Growth and Influence of Islam in the Nations of Asia and Central Asia” series. Mason Crest Publishers, 2005. (Gr. 8-12)
An emphasis on geopolitics gives these volumes a cohesive focus and an interest level not usually found in country studies. These well-written books are outstanding and would make excellent purchases for both school and public libraries.

Cunningham, Kevin. Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union. Morgan ReynoldsPublishing, 2006. (Gr. 8-12)
This biography of Stalin, which emphasizes his role in the creation and evolution of the Soviet Union, is an engaging read that attends both to the broader historical context and to explanations
of Stalin’s brutality. The illustrations— including maps and reproductions of cartoons, posters, and paintings—are an added bonus. The book is an excellent acquisition both for public and school
libraries.

Frucht, Richard, ed. Eastern Europe. 3 volumes. ABC-CLIO, 2005. (Gr. 9+)
In this project, “Eastern Europe” applies to countries in Europe’s geographical east that are in various stages of application and membership in the European Union, as well as to the Balkan Peninsula. The essays on individual countries, written by respected social scientists, contain effective comparisons between countries in the region. These volumes provide a useful supplement to the material covered in European history survey courses as well as detailed explanations for students seeking an advanced understanding of the region.

Stoff, Laurie, ed. The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union. “Opposing Viewpointsin World History” series. Gale/Thomson Learning, 2006. (Gr. 11+)
Following a 12-page introduction to Soviet history, each chapter of this book provides several viewpoints on a debatable topic preceded by a summary of background information on that topic. The introductions are good but assume a more complex understanding of Soviet history than such a limited space can offer. The book will be useful for teachers who like the format of the series and can expand on the historical content.

Videos

Faultlines—The Search for Political and Religious Links: Russia
2003:37 min. Films for the Humanities andSocial Sciences production.
One of a six-part series, this program examines the resurgence of the Russian Orthodox Church and how its aspirations to spiritual and political power pose a threat to the fundamental freedoms of many Russians. Other documentaries in this series explore the relationship between religion and politics in Israel, Iran, India, Brazil, and the U.S.

Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good
2002, 2005: 64 min. Director: Matej Minac. Available through the National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeis University.
Winner of the International Emmy Award in 2002, this Czech-made documentary recounts the story of Nicholas Winton, who arranged the emigration of 669 Jewish children form Czechoslovakia to Great Britain from 1938 to 1939. Children and young adults should identify with the segments focusing on the children’s experiences. An included study guide contains discussion questions on the film and copies of the documents compiled by Winton during his
rescue campaign.

Shostakovich against Stalin: The War Symphonies
1997: 82 min. Director:Larry Weinstein. Available throughAmazon.com.
This exceptionally produced documentary— featuring interviews with Dmitry Shostakovich’s family, friends, and colleagues; contemporary footage; and performances of the composer’s work—performs two related functions very well. First, it examines the relationship between Shostakovich’s musical oeuvre and his experiences under Stalinism, commenting on the composer’s views toward the Soviet regime and its leader. In the process, this documentary also conveys the terror experienced by the cultural elite during Stalin’s purges, the horror of World War II, and the uncertainty of the postwar period.

Web Resources

Resources for Teaching Russian, East European, and Eurasian Children’s Stories
Folk tales and picture books for a preschool through middle school audience. These books were selected and annotated by Colleen Galvin, University of Illinois Masters Student in Library and Information Science and REEEC Outreach Assistant.

Chernobyl Information
This site includes links to facts and news about the disaster; informative online projects such as interviews and testimonies; a glossary of relevant terms; a large bibliography; links to
organizations involved in the study or cleanup of Chernobyl and its affects; and more.

Inside Chernobyl
The main page for National Geographic’s April 2006 feature on Chernobyl, with a preview of the print article and links to the story’s photo gallery, field notes from the author, and a map of the soil contamination resulting from the accident.

 

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