702Z Fall 2026 Russia's Continuing Wars with the West

In 1991, the Soviet Union ended. The Cold War, the long struggle between Russia and the West, was over and we had won! We thought. Today Russian troops are on the ground in Ukraine in perhaps the most visible attempt to spread Russian power, but there are many other ways that Russia still wages war against the West. "Active measures" from the Cold War days are active again: they include covert and deniable overseas operations (including assassinations), disinformation campaigns, and funding for friendly political movements. Sabotage against Western countries include blowing up rail lines in Poland, setting fire to a warehouse in London, and severing communications and power cables under the Baltic Sea. There are cyberattacks against Western countries and invasion of national boundaries by drones. Intelligence sources also report foiling a Russian plot to plant incendiary devices on planes flying from Europe to the United States. This class will exam Russia's continuing wars on the West.

Elva Card taught World History for 31 years in Fairfax County Public Schools. She has a B.A. in History from George Washington University and two MA's from George Mason University.