After four years at the U. S. Department of State, where my work focused on U.S.–Soviet relations, I decided to shift my professional life to teaching at the university level.  I spent 20 years with the American Studies Program, based on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and then was invited to direct the Russian Initiative for a coalition of faith-based colleges and universities in the States.  This eventually led to 20 years of working in Russia, commuting more than 100 times between Moscow and Washington, D.C.  When we were forced out of Russia, my work in higher education shifted to Eurasia, with a particular focus on Ukraine.  A more detailed record of my work in higher education can be found on my personal website (www.johnabernbaum.org).

As tensions between Russia and Ukraine began to increase and eventually exploded into war when Russia invaded Ukraine, I began tracking developments and writing periodic updates for my family and close friends.  I decided to focus on both the front lines and the home front, especially since there are some great stories of courageous people who are helping the victims caught in the middle of this war.  I also made a decision to report on the role of religion in this region, which is rarely covered by the traditional news services.  Within a few months, the mailing list expanded substantially, which is why I am now using Substack for these reports.  In the near future, I hope to add some podcasts and videos of lectures and panel discussions in which I have participated.

I invite you to send me questions or suggestions about future topics – though I know already that my answer will often be: “It’s complicated.”  I will try to help you navigate what is occurring in this war and why international relations can be difficult to figure out, with so many countries involved — with different and often conflicting interests.  There are few simple answers, and the truth will be even harder to discern after the mid-term elections gear up, followed by the presidential election of 2024.

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International Relations: Russian-Ukrainian War

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Senior Fellow Paul Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity & Politics