Putin\u27s Russia: What Was, What Is, and What May Be

The civil war raging in Ukraine stands as a microcosm for what many politicians are referring to as a “new cold war” dividing today’s Russia from Europe and the U.S. This current superpower struggle is very different from that of decades past: in the 24 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has moved away from Communism and, at least until recently, promoted the advantages of mass consumption, via many of the same name brands familiar to capitalist societies. At the same time, however, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that his country should not be expected to build a post- Soviet regime in perfect accordance with either U.S. interests or ideals. This seminar will discuss the role of the Ukraine crisis in exacerbating such tensions. How has Russia changed since the conflict began? What seem to be the aspirations of its leaders, and are they in line with past Soviet principles or do they reflect a new set of strategies and ambitions? Should we continue to think of the world as still divided between East and West