Full Lecture Video

1h 02m 30s

"Together and Apart: Poles and Jews in the 20th Century"

Full Lecture Video

1h 02m 31s

Dr. Piotr Wrobel, Associate Professor and Konstanty Reynert Chair of Polish History, History Department, University of Toronto

"Together and Apart: Poles and Jews in the 20th Century"

Clip from Lecture [41:40 - 48:10]

Dr. Wrobel argued that the Poles and Jews created new civic religions, each side working to strengthen beliefs in their respective nations. The Poles portrayed themselves as victims of Western abandonment and communist occupation. The Jews set out to reunite secular and assimilated Jews, and sought the Holocaust as basis for their new civic religion. Stereotypes of both populations have hindered reconciliation between Poles and Jews.

Dr. Wrobel raised the issue of rediscovering the Polish and Jewish past. With the Polish communists in power, the new generation of Poles had little understanding of what happened during World War II and had little access to outside sources of information.

Increasing authentic curiosity from Polish youth about the blank spots in Polish history books spawned new interest in Jewish history. The Catholic intelligentsia played a prominent role in reviving Jewish memory, establishing work groups in the 1970s to spread knowledge of Jewish history in Poland. Pope John Paul II became influential in spreading the popular movement. Attempts to stop the movement by the communists ultimately failed.

In his lecture, Taras Senyuta revisited the Chernobyl accident of 1986. He noted that there had been several accidents and structural flaws according to KGB documents. Yet, the station continued to operate. On April 26, 1986, Reactor #4 was scheduled for a test of emergency equipment when something went terribly wrong.

Dr. Wilson's segment begins with an assessment of the Red Army in June 1941. He notes that the Red Army faced an internal personnel problem, not one of a superior foe. He indicates that British and American intelligence sources believed the Red Army would collapse in weeks, but with the help of the Russian winter, the Red Army launched a remarkable counter offensive.

February 7, 2006 - Laird Brownbag Lecture, "Survival Strategies in Contemporary Russia: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Households,"
Dr. Eric Hanley, Department of Sociology, University of Kansas.

Dr. Volek argued that the news media in Russia is working, particularly at the "grassroots" level. He discussed two media businesses that are making a profit and plan to expand to illustrate the financial viability of the media. However, he noted that freedom of the press is a sore point in Russia.

Dr. Hanley compared how agricultural activities affect the income and overall health of urban and rural households. In his study, he found that self-producing households in urban areas have a higher dietary standard than those of non-provisioning urban households. However, household differences in rural areas were not statistically significant.

Summary of Russo-Japanese War: Railroads.

In this segment, Dr. Saul discusses the expansion of Russia to the Far East with the Trans-Siberian Railroad. He notes that the development of the railway alarmed the Japanese because Japan was also interested in the area around Manchuria and Korea.

Conflict Resolution and
American Intervention.

Dr. Saul continues his talk with a discussion of the war's resolution. With national interest about events in the Far East increasing, the United States intervened in the war, proposing a peace conference to be held in America. The United States managed to work out a joint resolution for an end to the conflict.

Dr. Anna Cienciala, Professor Emerita of History at the University of Kansas, discussed the Declaration of Liberated Europe, signed in Yalta by Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin. She noted that Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov worried about the three powers working together to restore Eastern European sovereignty. He was reassured by Stalin that the USSR would never implement the accord.

In this segment, Dr. Alex Tsiovkh asks about the Polish question which can be traced back to Lenin. Dr. Cienciala answers by mentioning the Polish-Soviet war in 1920 and attributes some of Poland's success to its ability to crack the secret Soviet military code.

Dr. Dubovyk presented the characteristics of soft security, from social and economic to political aspects. He also discussed social problems such as human trafficking and drug cartels.

In this segment, Dr. Dubovyk addresses the question: "Are recent political and military tensions signs for future events?"

Dr. Mieczyslaw Biskupski delivered the annual Oswald Backus lecture at the University of Kansas on May 5, 2004. Dr. Biskupski addressed how Poles and Polish Americans were portrayed in WWII era films.

In a provocative and challenging discussion with KU students and faculty, Glen Howard, President of the Jamestown Foundation and KU alumnus, and Ilyas Akhmadov, former Foreign Minister of Chechnya, addressed the current situation in Chechnya.

Dr. Taras Kuzio delivered the annual Maria Palij public lecture at the University of Kansas on April 28, 2005. In the following segments from his lecture, Dr. Kuzio explains the role that Ukrainian youth played and why elements of the Ukrainian security services decided to support the revolution.

September 19, 2006 - “St. Petersburg, Russia, Media Update: Building Communities”
Dr. Tom Volek, Journalism, KU.

“It is for the better, because democracy is never comfortable or predictable, in the sense that all those grand promises by Yushchenko and the perception of a Messiah of a new ruler who would set the record straight are now crushed.” Dr. Tsiovkh reflects on the new Ukrainian government in place, where President Yushchenko’s rival Yanukovych became the new Prime Minister. Dr. Tsiovkh then goes on by speculating on the future of Ukrainian
politics, including external relations (EU & NATO membership) and domestic partisanship, mainly, with Tymoshenko as the “only remaining loyal orange revolution politician.”

Tom Volek shares his research in his recent visit to St. Petersburg, Russia. Dr. Volek visited Channel 100, a family run independent non-network, non-political player station that reveals some developments in Russian media. In Russia almost all important stations are owned by networks, but not this one, which shows independence and sufficient resources for local production is feasible and encouraging. This represents a big step in creating an independent media. Dr. Volek believes that this station has their feet on the ground and is not in danger of being put
out of business.