Hot Peace: U.S.-Russia Relations Since the Cold War

This course is an historical analysis of U.S.-Russia relations since the end of the Cold War. Focusing on "reset" diplomacy during the terms of five American and three Russian presidents since 1990, it reveals a familiar historical pattern that begins with high hopes, dialogue, and optimism only to be followed by vast disappointment, standoffs, and pessimism. Despite this dynamic, the course shows how and why the two countries have been able to cooperate at times to make substantial headway on critical issues such as arms control, nonproliferation of WMD, NATO expansion, counterterrorism, and economic and energy development, whereas at other times they have run afoul of major obstacles such as further NATO expansion, missile defense, and democracy and human rights in Russia. The course also examines how many political events created substantial challenges to U.S.-Russia relations, including the Balkan Wars; U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; Russia's wars in Chechnya, Georgia and Ukraine/Crimea; the "Color Revolutions"; the Arab Spring and subsequent civil wars in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya; the fight against ISIS and other militant Islamists; the threats posed by Iran and North Korea; the rise of China; espionage crises; hybrid wars; cyberattacks; and disinformation campaigns. Two vital questions frame the analysis: (1) Why has it been so difficult for these two great powers to develop a mutually beneficial relationship? (2) What would be required to move beyond the limited partnership to something more productive and sustaining? The course concludes by evaluating "reset" diplomacy and the ongoing attempts to move U.S.-Russia relations beyond a Hot Peace.

Course Attributes: EN H; BU Hum; BU IS; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM

Hot Peace: U.S.-Russia Relations Since the Cold War

HISTORY 3045

Section 01