Library EventRussia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States

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Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm

02/21/2024 12:00pm 02/21/2024 1:00pm Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States

The root of the Russo-Ukrainian War is not geopolitical competition, but the multifaceted divergence between Ukraine and Russia over the past 30 years. As Ukraine consolidated a competitive political system and a distinct pro-European identity, Russia reverted back to authoritarianism, refused to accept Ukraine's right to forge its own course, and came to see it as an “anti-Russia”.

Our speaker, Maria Popova, is an Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University, Scientific Director of the Jean Monnet Centre Montreal, and Editor of the Cambridge Elements Series on Politics and Society from Central Europe to Central Asia. Her work explores rule of law and democracy in Eastern Europe. Her first book Politicized Justice in Emerging Democracies, which won the American Association for Ukrainian Studies book prize in 2013, examines the weaponization of law to manipulate elections and control the media in Russia and Ukraine. Her new book with Oxana Shevel, on the roots of the Russo-Ukrainian war, is Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m., join us for social connection and a meal! Please register by February 18 so we know how much food to order.

Cosponsorship between the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council and the Iowa City Public Library.

Iowa City Public Library Iowa City Public Library America/Chicago public

In-person event + Livestream
Meeting Room A, Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C, Livestream

The root of the Russo-Ukrainian War is not geopolitical competition, but the multifaceted divergence between Ukraine and Russia over the past 30 years. As Ukraine consolidated a competitive political system and a distinct pro-European identity, Russia reverted back to authoritarianism, refused to accept Ukraine's right to forge its own course, and came to see it as an “anti-Russia”.

Our speaker, Maria Popova, is an Associate Professor of Political Science at McGill University, Scientific Director of the Jean Monnet Centre Montreal, and Editor of the Cambridge Elements Series on Politics and Society from Central Europe to Central Asia. Her work explores rule of law and democracy in Eastern Europe. Her first book Politicized Justice in Emerging Democracies, which won the American Association for Ukrainian Studies book prize in 2013, examines the weaponization of law to manipulate elections and control the media in Russia and Ukraine. Her new book with Oxana Shevel, on the roots of the Russo-Ukrainian war, is Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m., join us for social connection and a meal! Please register by February 18 so we know how much food to order.

Cosponsorship between the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council and the Iowa City Public Library.

If you need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the Library.

This event is open to the public.

Cosponsor

Cosponsor Organization: Iowa City Foreign Relations Council

Cosponsor Name: Peter Gerlach

Adults Current Issues Iowa City Foreign Relations Council