Uzbekistan and Belarus: How 20th Century Experiences Shape the Present

press release: John P. Riordan, MA'04, Foreign Service Officer, USAID

Drawing on a mixture of archival research and extensive on-the-ground experience, Mr. Riordan will engage participants in a discussion of pivotal events and issues of identity emanating from twentieth-century conflicts such as the Great Patriotic War. He will explore how these events continue to impact and influence current trends in both Uzbekistan and Belarus. The framing of these pivotal twentieth-century experiences in today's context is key to understanding current trajectories and the societal fabric in both Uzbekistan and Belarus.