Date and Time
Thursday Apr 17, 2014
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT
Thursday, April 17, 2014
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Location
Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaboration
Aurora University
1347 Prairie Street
Aurora, IL
Fees/Admission
Free
Description
A presentation by Dr. Mark Soderstrom, Assistant Professor of History at Aurora University
In recent months, events in Ukraine and Russia have captured the world’s attention. Not since the Cold War ended more than two decades ago have Americans been as interested in Eastern Europe as they have in 2014. But how do we make sense of what we are seeing? Is this, as some proclaim, the start of a “New Cold War”? Is Russian President Vladimir Putin redrawing Eastern Europe’s borders, so as to reconstitute what was once the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire that came before it? Is Russia, as Putin himself asserts, acting to stem “fascism” and protect ethnic Russians within Ukraine? And why is Putin—despite being scorned abroad—so popular at home? What about the people of Ukraine? Who are they? What do they want? What, indeed, is Ukraine—and what does it mean to be Ukrainian?
Making sense of such questions requires historical context. In this presentation, Dr. Mark Soderstrom, a historian of Russia and the Soviet Union, will provide an overview of the most salient factors—past and present—that are fueling this pivotal crisis. All are welcome.
