The Russian invasion of Ukraine has generated a severe humanitarian crisis and the widespread destruction of infrastructure and civilian property. Over four million refugees have fled the country in search of safety, and scores of internally displaced migrants remain in Ukraine. The incursion has also raised questions about Europe’s security architecture, including the role of the European Union and NATO, and how these institutions (and their member states) respond to regional crises. In this public lecture, Dr. Octavius Pinkard will put the war in perspective and share insights on both the causes and geopolitical implications of the ongoing conflict.
Sponsored by CSGI, the Department of Political Science, and the National Security Strategic Studies Partnership. Free parking in the Alpine Garage.
Speaker
Dr. Octavius Pinkard, a Virginia native, is an international affairs specialist with a strong background in both the theory and practice of international relations. His extensive experience includes NATO headquarters (Brussels), the National Security Education Program (Washington) and teaching Comparative Politics and International Relations at the College of William & Mary and Christopher Newport University. He has also served as a consultant for civil-military relations at the Joint Forces Staff College, and has been active as an analyst or consultant for organizations in Pakistan, France, Belgium, Lebanon and Jordan. He received his diplomatic accreditation to Ukraine in 2020 and was evacuated from the country in mid-February while living and working in Donetsk, the largest city in the rebel-controlled Donbass region in the east.