Area Studies: Russia and Eastern Europe

Abstract

Russian and Eastern European studies have been among the earliest and most important of the postwar develop ments in regional programs, partly because of the evident im portance of these areas, partly because of their relative accessi bility as an extension of European studies. Experience thus far would indicate that these undertakings have been intellectu ally beneficial both to the established academic disciplines and in the creation of programs for other regions of the world. Motivated by the effort to comprehend a society as a whole —an effort of particular importance in the Soviet case—these programs have achieved, in a number of universities, a vigorous multidisciplinary approach to both teaching and research. The very expansion and vitality of Russian studies have, however, created certain problems: chiefly, with the incorporation of new subjects, the danger of overloading the student's curriculum or unduly prolonging his graduate school career. It seems likely that the future will witness the continuation of these programs, but accompanied by increased activity in Russian studies within the various departments and disciplines.