WSU Tri-Cities’ expert on Russia-Ukraine conflicts to speak at Columbia Basin Badger Club
As we follow the rapidly-changing accounts of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, it is important to understand the history and context of what has led to the first land war in Europe since World War II.
On Thursday, March 10, the Columbia Basin Badger Club will present a special forum, “Ukraine: A Primer,” featuring Dr. Brigit Farley, associate professor of history at WSU Tri-Cities. Her teaching and research interests include 20th century Russia and Europe, war and peace, and the Holocaust.
A graduate of Georgetown University with majors in Russian area studies and French language and literature, Farley received an MA from Indiana University in Slavic languages and literature and a PhD in history. She is a frequent traveler to the region, and speaks Russian, French and Serbo-Croatian.
Her expertise covers Russia, Eastern Europe, U.S. and European foreign affairs 1914 to present, the Russian Revolution, WWI and WWII, the Cold War and European ethnic conflicts. Farley also worked in the Soviet Union as a United States Information Agency exhibit guide during the late 1980s.
Ukraine has been at the crossroads of competing empires since before the Middle Ages, occupied by Vikings, Mongols, Tartars, Russians, Lithuania/Poland, Ottomans, Germans and others.
The Badger Club’s program will review the nation’s geography, ethnic nationalities, religion, history, and culture, with an emphasis on the past 100 years. That includes Ukraine’s tilt to the West and Putin’s geo-political motivations for wanting Ukraine back under the Russian influence.
Registration for this Zoom webinar can be done at columbiabasinbadgers.com. The program is free for club members and $5 for nonmembers.
The program will consist of a half-hour presentation by Farley, followed by a half-hour question and answer period. That will be followed by a special “Table Talk” segment where viewers can discuss the program directly with Farley and each other.
I hope you will join us.