Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought new salience to the subject of Russia’s colonial legacy and its impact on the country’s society and politics. The imperialist politics driving Russia’s Ukraine policy have brought new scrutiny from analysts and activists - both Russian and foreign - seeking to better understand the influence of Russia’s imperial history on its present.
In his haunting and unique new book, War and Punishment, Russian journalist and historian Mikhail Zygar interrogates the Kremlin’s current justifications for its brutal war and debunks the historical myths that have supported Russian imperialism over the centuries. Through examining 350 years of history, Zygar seeks to dismantle the imperialist mindset that has shaped Russian foreign policy and explain how colonialism and chauvinism continues to shape how many Russians view Ukraine. From debunking the claim that Russia and Ukraine were co-founded to outlining the pattern of anti-Ukrainian persecution from one era to the next, the book makes significant contributions to ongoing conversations about the legacy of empire and the importance of coming to terms with the past for a democratic future in Russia.
Please join us for a conversation with Mikhail Zygar, Press Freedom Fellow at CUNY’s Journalism Protection Initiative and a columnist for Der Spiegel, and Fiona Hill, senior fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe within the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, as they discuss War and Punishment and why understanding the Kremlin’s motivations toward Ukraine today is crucial for policy-making and planning for the future.
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