The Long View

The Kennan Institute

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The Long View explores ideas, long-form arguments, and the space where public debate meets rigorous research. The series examines the former Soviet Union and the global policy questions it raises, bringing scholars and practitioners into conversation. Through interviews and discussions, The Long View connects academic insight with real-world relevance, continuing the Kennan Institute’s tradition of clear, accessible analysis.

22 Jun

#021 - Writing About Russia with M. Gessen

Recorded live at The LINE Hotel’s Banneker Ballroom in Washington, D.C., this special edition of The Long View features M. Gessen, journalist, author, opinion columnist for The New York Times, and host of The Idiot podcast, in conversation with Maria Lipman and Michael Kimmage. The conversation explores Gessen’s journey from the Soviet Union to the United States and back to Russia, the role of literature and personal experience in their writing, and the challenges of telling stories about identity, exile, authoritarianism, and political change. A production of the Kennan Institute.
18 Jun

#020 - Kievan Rus Is Ours: National Memory and Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Michael Kimmage is joined by sociologist Ekaterina Klimenko and Alicja Curanovic, Professor at the University of Warsaw, for a discussion on the role of Kievan Rus in contemporary Russian politics and the ways historical narratives shape national identity, state legitimacy, and foreign policy. The conversation examines how Russia’s political leadership has drawn on medieval history to construct a vision of national continuity, why Kievan Rus occupies such a central place in Russian historical memory, and how competing claims to that legacy have become intertwined with Russia’s war against Ukraine. Topics include national memory, post-Soviet identity, Russian nationalism, the political use of history, and the contested legacy of Kievan Rus. A production of the Kennan Institute.
14 Jun

#018 - From Königsberg to Kaliningrad with Nicole Eaton

Michael Kimmage speaks with historian Nicole Eaton about the remarkable transformation of Königsberg into Kaliningrad and the ways Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union each sought to remake the city and its inhabitants. Drawing on her book, German Blood, Slavic Soil, Eaton explores the history of East Prussia, the destruction of Königsberg during World War II, the expulsion of its German population, and the Soviet effort to build an entirely new society in its place. The conversation examines how ideology, war, migration, and memory shaped one of Europe’s most consequential territorial transformations and what Kaliningrad’s history can tell us about twentieth-century Europe. Nicole Eaton is Associate Professor of History at Boston College and a specialist in the history of Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and World War II. A production of the Kennan Institute.
27 May

#019 - Post-Soviet Russian Literature with Bradley Gorski and Yasha Klots

In this episode of The Long View, Bradley Gorski and Yasha Klots discuss the evolution of Russian literature after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The conversation explores the transition from Soviet era ideological publishing to the chaotic and dynamic literary marketplace of the 1990s, the lifting of censorship, the return of previously banned works, and the emergence of new literary voices and genres in post Soviet Russia. Together, the speakers examine how political change, market forces, and shifting cultural expectations transformed Russian literary life after 1991. Featuring:Bradley Gorski, Georgetown UniversityYasha Klots, Hunter College A production of the Kennan Institute.
21 Apr

The Long View #016 | Writing About War with Ian Buruma

In this episode of The Long View, Ian Buruma discusses his book Stay Alive: Berlin, 1939–1945 and reflects on the broader question of how war is written and remembered. The conversation considers life in Berlin during the Second World War, the cultural and human dimensions of wartime experience, and the moral complexities faced by individuals living under authoritarian rule. It also expands beyond World War II to examine the craft of writing about war, both during conflict and after the fact. This episode offers a historical and reflective perspective on how narratives of war shape our understanding of the past and inform the present.
20 Mar

#015 - Childhood During the Chechen Wars with Lana Estemirova

In this episode of The Long View, Lana Estemirova, journalist and human rights activist, joins Elizabeth Culp for a conversation on growing up during the Chechen wars and the lasting impact of conflict on personal and political life. Drawing from her memoir, Please Live: The Chechen Wars, My Mother and Me, Estemirova shares an intimate account of her childhood shaped by war, as well as the enduring influence of her mother, Natalia Estemirova, a leading Memorial human rights activist. The discussion explores the broader implications of the Chechen conflicts of the 1990s and 2000s, examining their role in shaping Chechnya’s political trajectory and the importance of civic engagement in confronting injustice. Blending personal narrative with historical insight, this episode offers a powerful reflection on resilience, memory, and activism across Russia and the post-Soviet states.
13 Mar

#014 - The State of Ukranian Studies with Oxana Shevela & Serhii Plokhy

In this episode of The Long View, Michael Kimmage speaks with Oxana Shevel (Tufts University) and Serhii Plokhy (Harvard University) about the history and future of Ukrainian studies. The conversation explores how Ukrainian studies emerged in North America through the efforts of diaspora communities and scholars who sought to develop academic research on Ukraine’s language, history, and culture. The discussion also examines how Cold War scholarship often focused on Moscow, leaving Ukrainian perspectives underrepresented. Following Ukraine’s independence in 1991, the field expanded rapidly as scholars began exploring new questions about Ukrainian identity, politics, and civil society. Shevel and Plokhy discuss how archival access, interdisciplinary approaches, and contemporary geopolitical developments are shaping the next generation of Ukrainian studies. The episode highlights why understanding Ukraine’s history and intellectual traditions is essential for interpreting current events and the broader dynamics of Eastern Europe.
11 Mar

#013 - The Nazi War Against the Soviet Jews with Jochen Hellbeck

In this episode of The Long View, historian Jochen Hellbeck discusses his book World Enemy No. 1: Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, and the Fate of the Jews. Drawing on newly uncovered archival materials and firsthand accounts from both German and Soviet sources, Hellbeck explores how Nazi ideology shaped Germany’s war against the Soviet Union and its Jewish population. The conversation examines the role of the concept of “Judeo-Bolshevism,” the ideological foundations of the war in the East, and the ways propaganda and historical narratives influenced the violence of the Second World War. The discussion also reflects on how memory politics in Russia, Europe, and the West continue to shape interpretations of the war today. Jochen Hellbeck is Professor of History at Rutgers University and a leading scholar of Soviet and wartime history.

The Long View explores ideas, long-form arguments, and the space where public debate meets rigorous research. The series examines the former Soviet Union and the global policy questions it raises, bringing scholars and practitioners into conversation. Through interviews and discussions, The Long View connects academic insight with real-world relevance, continuing the Kennan Institute’s tradition of clear, accessible analysis.

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The Kennan Institute
Episodes

20
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Clean
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© The Kennan Institute
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The Long View