Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine:Historical Considerations and International Dimensions

Why has Russia invaded Ukraine? What are Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goals in the country and wider region? How can we characterize Russian-Ukrainian relations, historically and now? What are the international drivers of the invasion? What is the United States’ response to this event? What are the implications for the region and international community? This public presentation explores these questions and offers a historical, political, and international context for understanding Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine. Join us Thursday, March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. AKST online via zoom. Zoom Link: https://alaska.zoom.us/j/82946346284 Presented by: Dr. Brandon Boylan Associate Professor of Political Science Director of Arctic and Northern Studies Dr. Brandon M. Boylan is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Arctic and Northern Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His research focuses on international security, political violence, ethnic conflict, separatist movements, and a variety of Arctic issues. His authored and co-authored work has been published in various outlets, such as International Studies Perspectives, Nations and Nationalism, Conflict Management and Peace Science, and Journal of Common Market Studies. His collaborative work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education. He teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in international relations, comparative politics, and research methods, and advises several undergraduate, M.A., and Ph.D. students. He is faculty lead on the UArctic Model Arctic Council. He holds a Ph.D. in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Tyler Kirk Assistant Professor of History Assistant Director of Arctic and Northern Studies Tyler Kirk is an Assistant Professor of History and the Assistant Director of Arctic and Northern Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His research focuses on the Soviet Union, post-Soviet Russia, and the circumpolar North. His recent publications examine the identities and memories of former Gulag prisoners and how they shaped the memory project of coming to terms with the legacy of Stalinist repression in the Soviet Union and the Russian Far North. He recently completed a book manuscript entitled Remembering the Gulag: A History of Memory in Russia's Far North, 1987-2021, which is currently under review with Indiana University Press.