Russian 390AA - Russia's War Against Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Russia began the invasion of Ukraine, a neighboring state and a "brotherly nation," as it is often referred to in Russia. The conflict rapidly unfolded, with crushing economic and political sanctions imposed on Russia, oil prices hitting record highs on international commodity markets, and millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing into Europe. This course attempts to understand the causes and contexts of this conflict and to map the conflicting perspectives on the war expressed by different political commentators. In this interdisciplinary seminar, we will explore the recent and current events by drawing on past research in history, anthropology, sociology, political science, and media studies as well as current media materials.