Lesson 2: Первый этап реформ

Lesson Description:

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This is the second lesson in a series of four based on a videotaped interview with the Russian politician and one-time presidential candidate Irina Khakamada. In the excerpts of the interview featured in this lesson, Khakamada discusses Russia’s transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy. In this lesson, you will watch three clips from the interview and read a text about the breakup of the Soviet Union. The lesson consists of five parts: Историческая справка, Авторитарно-рыночный этап, Ельцинская команда, Реформы и их последствия, and Заключение.

What You Will Learn:

In this lesson, you will learn how Irina Khakamada characterizes Russia’s current transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy, what historical events led to that transition, and what difficulties the people of Russia had to face in view of such dramatic changes in the political and economic life of the country. You will also work with cognates related to political terminology that will help you gain a better understanding of the topic.

Learning Tips:

This lesson is rich in historical information such as dates, names, and political events. Be sure to use what you know about Russia’s history and politics from newspapers, online sources, and recently published books on the collapse of the Soviet Union. Also, keep in mind that in her political views Irina Khakamada is a devout liberal, and her opinions might differ from those of conservative or radical politicians.

	Number of pages: 16
	Estimated completion time: 1 hour, 30 minutes