The 2007 film 'The Edge of Heaven,' directed by Fatih Akin, explores themes of cultural identity, migration, and familial relationships set against a backdrop of Germany and Turkey.

This event explores the evolution of Russian rock music from the 1980s, critical of the Soviet regime, to today's alignment with contemporary Russian politics, reflecting a shift from progressive to conservative values.

Yuri Slezkine's 'The House of Government' narrates the lives of Moscow's elite Communist officials in a large apartment complex, tracing their rise and fall during the Soviet era, encapsulated by personal stories, literary criticism, and architectural history.

Dr. Emily Channell-Justice discusses the impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including societal and human costs, at a Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations virtual event.

Dr. Sarah Cameron, a history professor at the University of Maryland, specializes in genocide, environmental history, and Central Asian societies. Her book, 'The Hungry Steppe,' explores the Stalinist-induced Kazakh famine of 1930-33, a result of forced collectivization.

The book 'The Incarcerated Modern' by Golnar Nikpour examines Iran's transformation into a modern state with a significant prison population, highlighting the impact of the carceral system on Iranian citizenship and political identity.

Explore Russia's foreign policy in global health security, highlighting its wartime diplomacy and strategic shifts in response to sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes Russia's alignment with China and efforts to engage the Global South in health strategies.

Ruban's research analyzes the history of abortion in the USSR, focusing on the 1920 decree and its global impact across the USSR and beyond, including the US and Europe.

Director Milcho Manchevski, from Skopje, North Macedonia, delivered the 2023 Choncoff Lecture. He discussed his acclaimed film career, including 'Before the Rain', which won multiple awards and is celebrated globally for its innovative narrative and emotional depth.

In 2015, over a million refugees and migrants entered the EU from the Middle East and Africa, primarily traveling through Turkey to Greece and then via the Western Balkans before the route closed in March 2016.

Gabriel Escobar will discuss U.S. strategic engagement in the Balkans, highlighting collaboration with the EU to enhance regional security, focusing on civic, government, and economic aspects in relation to broader U.S. European policy.

A virtual panel titled 'The Baltics: Living with the Bear', focusing on Baltic states' geopolitical challenges.