A War with No End? Russia, Ukraine and America's Role in the World

The 2022 Russian invasion of the Ukraine shocked political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic. In the prelude to the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Ukraine an “artificial” nation claiming that it had always been part of Russia. On what basis does he make this claim and what shapes Putin’s broader outlook about the place of Russia in the modern world?

NATO and the United States in particular, have so far rejected military interventions and opted instead to use economic leverage in the form of sanctions and weapons supplies over direct action. Yet after four years of heavy fighting, casualties on both sides running into the hundreds of thousands and billions in Western financial aid, there is still no end in sight. How should we think about the significance of this war, its causes and its meaning for the United States in the current state of world affairs?

This course taught by David Livingstone, PhD, aims to provide attendees with an in-depth analysis of these questions. It offers insights on the roots of Russia’s war on Ukraine, where it stands today and the consequences of its outcome for the future of American foreign policy.

Livingstone received BA and MA degrees in history from California State University, Northridge, and a PhD in modern European history from the University of California, San Diego. He has taught at California Lutheran University, Moorpark College and the United States Naval War College. He specializes in European political, diplomatic and military history with an emphasis on modern Germany and serves as a historian and guide for World War II battlefield tours. He also served as a law enforcement officer for 34 years with the Simi Valley Police Department and retired in 2022 as chief of police. His first book, Militarization and Democracy in West Germany's Border Police, 1951-2005, was published by Camden House in 2024.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Register

Register by Monday, April 27 at 10 a.m.