Russian and Ukrainian Relations – Understanding Post-Soviet Politics Then and Now
Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its promotion of “Peoples Republics” of Luhansk and Donetsk represent a watershed on Russia’s post-Soviet history. Moscow’s recent decisions regarding Ukraine have altered fundamentally its relations with NATO, its individual members, the European Union, and other bordering newly independent states (NIS). The discussion will consider why forecasting Russia’s post-Soviet political life in as difficult in 2015 as it was in 1995. – Zachary Irwin, Ph.D.
Dr. Irwin is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. His teaching and research interests include comparative politics and political theory, as well as the politics of Southeastern Europe. Dr. Irwin has published in scholarly journals such as East European Quarterly, Problems of Communism, and The World Today and has contributed many book chapters, particularly concerning former Yugoslavia. He has held fellowships from the Wilson Center, as well as Fulbright and IREX grants.
