The history department, along with Phi Alpha Theta, will be hosting a lecture by
Anatoly Isaenko at 3 p.m. on Sept. 21 in Classroom Building B118.
The lecture is titled “Ethnic Conflicts and Their Transformations into a Regional and
Global Jihad in the Former Soviet Union,” and will address the ethnic jihad of Islamic
radicalists involving the Cuacasus area.
Isaenko is a professor at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, focusing
on Russian history and the history of ethnic conflicts, earning his doctorate from
Moscow State University in 1975.
“This will be a great experience for me and I hope to be helpful to students as well as
professors,” Isaenko said.
Isaenko is known for his expertise of the history of this region and also works with
the U.S. military said Bridget Chesterton, professor in the history and social studies
education department.
“He can explain the importance of a region we don’t pay much attention to,”
Chesterton said.
The Caucasus is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, which has
been subject to territorial disputes since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Tied into his knowledge of Russian history and the Caucasus region, Isaenko said
he wants to help students gain a better understanding on the conflicts in the area
between Muslims and non-Muslims, which have caused the area to become both
politically and ethnically unstable.
John Collard, senior history major and member of Phi Alpha Theta, said most of the
active members are planning to attend the lecture.
“This is a great opportunity for students to hear an expert outside of our
department who has other knowledge,” he said.
The history honor society works closely with the history department to help
organize and publicize events such as this with the hope of getting students
interested in other subjects.
Isaenko said he is excited to give this lecture because he respects the people
from the history department and looks forward to professors who will use his
book, “Polygon of Satan: Ethnic Traumas and Conflicts in the Caucasus,” as part of
their teachings.
He said he also plans to contribute to class lectures through Skype.
Jennifer Waters can be reached by email at waters.record@live.com.