This course covers a broad sweep of Russian history from the socialist revolution in 1917 to the turmoil of the present. Spanning almost a century of upheaval and transformation, the course examines the October revolution, the ruthless power struggles of the 1920s, the triumph of Stalin, the costly industrialization and collectivization drives, the battle against fascism, and the "wild west" capitalism and collapse of the social welfare state in the present time. The course provides essential background for anyone interested in understanding the explosive, history-making events in the former Soviet Union.