Putin's War in Ukraine: The Russian Empire Reborn? (Sponsored By Hugh and Connie Fitzpatrick)

This presentation will provide a summary of Russia's attacks on Ukrainian territory since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, with a focus on the catastrophic Russian invasion launched in March 2022. It will then offer an overview of the major explanations advanced by scholars, observers and analysts for the Russian onslaught. Economists point to the stagnation of Russia's economy, while economic historians note the long term drive of Russia's rulers to expand their borders southward to warmer climes. Historians of Russian politics and ideology see the invasion as a continuation of the variety of extremist Russian nationalism, which views Ukrainian identity as an invention of the West, that has influenced the country's politics since the late nineteenth century. Scholars of Russian religion highlight the ways Russian nationalism has built on the religious significance of the country, and especially its capital, Kiev, in the history of Orthodox Christianity. Finally, a minority of scholars closely engages with Putin's popularity, and general receptivity to Russian nationalism, in certain segments of Ukrainian society. Taken together, these elements will provide participants a comprehensive grasp of the conflict and its history.