Russian and East European Institute

On Wednesday, September 25 REEI hosted “Russian Odysseys: IU Alumni Alexander Rabinowitch and Stephen F. Cohen Reflect on Six (Plus!) Decades of Scholarly and Personal Engagement with Russia.” Both graduates of Indiana University, authors of groundbreaking studies in Soviet history, and leading scholars of Russian studies since the late 1960s, Professors Rabinowitz and Cohen discussed their differing paths to Russia and Russian studies as well as the impact of their engagement with Russia on their scholarship and their personal lives. Throughout the event, their life partners Janet Rabinowitz, longtime editor of IU Press, and Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editorial Director and Publisher of The Nation, guided the discussion by posing thoughtful questions.

Stephen F. Cohen received his BS in Business Economics and Public Policy in 1960 and his MA in Government in 1960 from IU. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Russian Studies at New York University and Princeton University. Alexander Rabinowitz received an REEI Certificate in 1963 and a PhD in History from IU in 1965. He is currently IU Professor Emeritus of History and Affiliated Research Scholar at the Saint Petersburg Institute of History, Russian Academy of Sciences.

A reception followed the event, which took place in the IMU University Club and was co-sponsored by the Russian Studies Workshop, the Media School, the Department of Political Science, and the Department of History.

During their visit to IU, Cohen and vanden Heuvel met with students in the Media School and Department of Political Science. On the evening of Tuesday, September 24, a packed house of faculty, students, and members of the community gathered in the IMU Dogwood Room for their joint presentation on “"What the New Cold War Means for US Policy and Media.” Following a lively question-and-answer session, Cohen signed copies of his newly published book War with Russia? From Putin & Ukraine to Trump & Russiagate.