Thanks to Dr Nicole J Jackson, Associate Professor at Simon Fraser University’s School for International Studies, we had a unique opportunity to attend a lecture on Russian Imperialism presented by Prof. Andrzej Nowak, a world-renowned expert on this topic.
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.
In this lecture, Prof. Nowak provides some valuable insights that each of us needs to be aware of.
Kommentare