Video: Prof. Andrzej Nowak speaking on Russian Imperial Strategy, its Goals and Instruments at Simon Fraser Universitys School for International Studies The topic of Russian Imperialism is currently particularly relevant in the context of Russian occupation of Crimea and invasion of Eastern Ukraine. In this lecture, Prof. Andrzej Nowak introduces the Russian imperial tradition and KGB background of Russian contemporary elite as the framework for understanding Russia’s goals and methods. He then presents the internal and external pressures facing Russia, and strategic importance of Ukraine in building ‘Russkiy Mir’, overcoming demographic crisis and expanding Russia’s influence. Prof. Nowak cites Zbigniew Brzezinski, emphasizing that ‘without Ukraine, Russia ceases to be an empire’. Prof. Nowak then presents the economic, military and ideological tools that Russia utilizes to pursue its expansionist goals in Europe. The key question is then how to effectively fight back. (Source: Ukrainian Vancouver) Biography of Prof. Nowak From Wikipedia: Polish historian and professor at Jagiellonian University and Business College - National Louis University in Nowy Sącz, former (1996) visiting professor of East-Central European history at Rice University. Member of Polish Academy of Sciences, where he is the director of Department of Russian and Soviet Studies. Chief editor of socio-cultural magazine (bi-monthly) Arcana. Member of the Advisory Board of Polskie Radio since 1998. Author of four books, some 60 historical publications (articles and studies) in scientific periodicals and dozens of articles, reviews and interviews, including many in the underground publications up to 1989. His main research areas are cultural and political history and thought of Eastern Europe in 19th and 20th centuries, political philosophy; international political relations; modern mass-media. He is considered one of top Polish experts on past and present Polish-Russian relations. Video via Ukrainian Vancouver: https://youtube/watch?v=Ga7kl7JgfQA
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 22:59:30 +0000