23 January 2024 – Stephen Hutchings

Russia

Our evil twin

The war in Ukraine is the most egregious of Russia's 21st Century military activities outside of its borders, but it is not the only one. In this talk, Professor Hutchings will place the war in Ukraine, along with other recent disruptive Russian state interventions, on the international stage and in the context of our responses to them. Whilst in no way excusing the brutal, illegal war that Russia has launched on Ukraine, this talk will consider it in the context of a centuries-long identity dynamic.

Drawing on references to historical events, cultural developments, and political philosophies, Stephen will show how Russia is locked into an incestuous struggle with what it now brands ‘the collective West’ — a deeply troubled relationship which reflects the respective imperial and post-imperial rivalries, fears, blind spots, and prejudices of both sides.

Stephen will conclude by indicating what this phenomenon might mean for how we deal with Russia in a future with, and without, Putin.

Stephen Hutchings

Stephen Hutchings is Professor of Russian Studies at the University of Manchester and Fellow of the UK's Academy of Social Sciences. He has published seven monographs and five edited volumes on various aspects of Russian literary, film and media studies with presses including Cambridge University Press, Cornell University Press and Routledge, as well as many articles in journals ranging from Television and New Media, Journalism, and European Journal of Cultural Studies, to Slavic Review.

Stephen has held eight large research grants with the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council since 2000. He was President of the British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies from 2010 to 2013.