Geopolitical 2020

Russia: Old Foe, New Nemesis

Thu Sep 17, 2020
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Event Video

The most consequential global confrontation of our time came as no surprise to pessimists. The end of the Cold War was followed by a brief period of hope that the U.S. and Russia could develop a cordial relationship. This was not to be and relations between the former Cold War rivals are as fraught as ever.

In this program, Ambassador Michael McFaul will address the post-Cold War relationship between the U.S. and Russia. This subject forms the basis for his latest book, “From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia.” Ambassador McFaul’s account combines history and memoir to tell the story of U.S.-Russia relations from the fall of the Soviet Union to the rise of the hostile, paranoid Russian president. As President Barack Obama’s adviser on Russian affairs, McFaul helped craft the United States’ policy known as the Russian “reset” that fostered new and unprecedented collaboration between the two countries. He was then posted to Moscow as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014, where he had a front-row seat when this hopeful moment crumbled with Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency.

Our virtual programs are graciously sponsored by Alpine Bank. Colorado Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities have also provided funding as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan of 2020.

Event Video

Event SPEAKER(S)

Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul

Former Ambassador and Professor

Stanford University