The Russia-Ukraine War is the biggest armed conflict in Europe since WWII. This course examines the origins of the war, the evolving course of the conflict, and its possible consequences. It begins with an overview of the problematic history between Russia and Ukraine from the emergence of the Russian state in the late 1400s to the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917. It then focusses on the Russian-Ukrainian relationship over the last 100 years. This includes the impact of the Russian Revolution and civil war; the creation of the Soviet Union; Stalin and the Ukrainian famine in the 1930s; Ukraine and the Soviet-German conflict in WWII; the Cold War; the collapse of the USSR and Ukrainian independence; Ukrainian-Russian relations, 1991-2022. It then examines the nature of the war thus far, and the possible repercussions of the conflict for Ukraine, Russia and the world.

Your Tutor is Dr Daniel Fazio

Dr Daniel Fazio PhD, MA, BA (Hons) has been teaching at WEA since 2018.

Daniel is a Lecturer in History and Politics at the University of South Australia. His areas of expertise include the history of American and Australian foreign policy and politics, the history of the US-Australian relationship, US-Korean-Australian relations, and modern Korean history and politics. He teaches World and US History, and international and Australian politics.

Daniel has taught the history of American foreign policy, the American Civil War, America at War, Twentieth Century America, Nazi Germany, Russia/USSR 1917-53, History's Turning Points and Killing Fields, War and Society, and World History.

Daniel is also an experienced political activist, having worked on a number of federal, state and local government election campaigns.