SUMMARY:

This essay continues the publication of materials in the series “New Curricula for New Histories of Northern Eurasia.” Victoria Smolkin delves into the complexities of educating American students about Ukraine amid ongoing war and political instability. Smolkin, a history professor at Wesleyan University, shares her pedagogical approach to a new course, “Histories of Ukraine,” designed to help students understand a nation often overlooked in Western curricula, particularly in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The essay emphasizes the importance of a plurality of historical narratives and urges a move beyond simplistic, state-centric frameworks. Smolkin highlights her innovative methods, including addressing presentism directly by connecting historical events to contemporary political rhetoric, such as Vladimir Putin’s justifications for war, and utilizing diverse primary and secondary sources to provide a rich, multifaceted understanding of Ukraine’s past and its contested present.