Europe, Russia and in-Between: Historical Encounters, Late Eighteenth Century to the Present

Decades after the official end of the Cold War, the escalating tensions between Russia and the West are at the forefront of current politics forcing many to rethink the chronology of the Cold War and its end in 1991. The focus of attention has been on Russia or the West, but the territories in-between--formerly part of the Soviet Union and the communist block--have been affected most severely by this confrontation. The aim of this seminar is to introduce students to the history of the complicated relationships between different regions in Europe towards a better understanding of politics today.