Friends of Princeton University Library Small Talk with Nina Khrushcheva *98, Professor of International Affairs, The New School
Russia, Ukraine, and the Perils of History
Join the Friends of PUL for their monthly Small Talk, which will feature Nina Khrushcheva *98, Professor of International Affairs, The New School.
When Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a “special military operation” in Ukraine last February what were his reasoning and his endgame? Did he want to punish Ukraine for turning towards the West by destabilizing its government, destroying its military infrastructure as well as parts of the country in its totality? Did he want to challenge the West for its perceived “unjust” world domination waging his own "just" war on this, what he often calls, “brotherly nation”? In a year since the conflict began there are still debates as to what the Kremlin’s exact motivations had been, and how far the Russian president may go to achieve his goals. Putin’s actual reasons for invading Ukraine are much less political or pragmatic than one should expect in 21st century geopolitics, but there are relevant instances of history, both czarist and Soviet, that have been driving Putin’s current actions. In this context, the events of October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which recently marked its sixtieth anniversary, provides for a useful comparison to the Ukraine crisis today.
We welcome current Friends of PUL members to attend in person. A reception will follow the live talk.
The presentation will also be available by Zoom.
*PLEASE NOTE: Online registration is now closed for this event. Please email libraryf@princeton.edu if you would like to attend virtually (in-person attendance is full).*
- Date:
- Wednesday, January 18, 2023
- Time:
- 4:00pm - 6:00pm
- Audience:
- Friends of Princeton University Library
- Categories:
- Friends of the Princeton University Library Event
Nina Khrushcheva (Princeton graduate class of '98) is Professor in the Graduate Programs in International Affairs at The New School and an editor of and a contributor to Project Syndicate: Association of Newspapers Around the World. Her articles have appeared in Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, and other publications. She has commented widely on Russian politics for MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, BBC, and other international media outlets. Khrushcheva's latest book (co-authored) is In Putin's Footsteps: Searching for the Soul of an Empire Across Russia's Eleven Time Zones (St. Martin's Press, 2019). She is currently working on the biography of her great-grandfather, Nikita Khrushchev.
This event is part of the Friends of the Princeton University Library Small Talks Series.
View recordings of previous events.
Join the Friends of the Princeton University Library. Friends receive a newsletter, two issues of the Princeton University Library Chronicle, and are invited to participate in a variety of activities and events, including exhibition openings, lectures and talks, gala dinners, workshops on topics such as preservation, bookbinding, and print collecting.
To request disability-related accommodations for this event, please contact pulcomm@princeton.edu at least 3 working days in advance.