Putin’s Weltanschaung: Intellectual Roots of the War Against Ukraine

Check in: 3:30;      3:45-5:00PM Program presentation and Q&A

5:00PM Informal Reception with Arthur R. Rachwald - Refreshments & no-host bar

Almost one year ago an undemocratic Slavic country invaded its democratic Slavic neighbor claiming that this “special military operation” was a preemptive step designed to safeguard Ukraine against Nazification. It is relatively common to focus on Putin and his cronies for staging the largest military confrontation in Europe since WWII. But this offensive action must be understood in terms of historical continuity imbedded in political aspirations of imperial and Soviet Russia.

Instead of attributing the invasion to the current residents in the Kremlin, it is imperative to explain the aggression in the context of the enduring Russian political beliefs and dogmas. Specifically, the legacy of Mongolian and Byzantine empires (the Third Rome), Christian Orthodoxy (superiority), autocracy, “gathering of the ‘Russian’ land,” xenophobia and victimhood.

Professor Rachwald’s Administrative and Teaching Experience while serving with the U.S. Naval Academy included: Senior Academic Adviser, Political Science Dept; Chairman & Faculty, Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conferences.

Former Visiting Resident Professor, SAIS (School of Advanced International Studies) Bologna Center, The Johns Hopkins University; Professorial Lecturer, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Austria.

Research Interests include: Geo-Strategic Issues; Transatlantic Relations; Politics of Central Europe; IR Theories.

Professional Honors: The Atlantic Council of the US; Am. Assoc Advancement of Slavic Studies; International Studies Association.

Author, four books; many Book Chapters; Articles & Reviews, as well as Conference Papers & Presentations.

REGISTRATION for this event is REQUIRED by Saturday, February 4th, 2023