Boe Forum to host former Russian ambassador

The 25th Boe Forum on Public Affairs will feature Michael McFaul, former ambassador to Russia and professor of political science at Stanford University. The talk, titled “Russia and the Future of Europe,” will discuss Russia’s geopolitical ambitions, the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the relationship between the U.S. and Russia.

McFaul oversaw the Obama administration’s “reset” policy during the president’s first term, and served as ambassador to Russia from 2012-2014. While in Russia, he was targeted by Russian president Vladimir Putin and eventually banned from traveling to the country. His experience is chronicled in his book “From Cold War to Hot Peace,” in which he explores the unraveling of relations between the U.S. and Russia in the 2010s.

In addition to his role at Stanford, McFaul is a columnist for The Washington Post and a pundit in American media. A vocal critic of Putin, he has written extensively about the illiberal tendencies of the Russian government.

The forum will include a talk by the former ambassador, followed by a Q&A session moderated by President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. The free event, hosted by the Center for Western Studies, will take place on March 31 in the Elmen Center and is open to the public. Free tickets can be found at augie.edu/mcfaul.