2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The years-long conflict between Russia and Ukraine, leading up to the Feb 2022 attack on Ukraine by Russia, is unfortunately a compelling crisis that deserves the attention of Social Studies teachers and their students. If not us, then who? Our students are hearing a lot about this on social media, instagram and tiktok in particular, and so much of it is trash. There is a plethora of false information on social media regarding this invasion, including passing off footage from previous conflicts as part of the current events -- our students need an informed guide to what's happening, and some tools in order to think through this crisis critically and compassionately. Mainstream media and verified social media is providing many stories, videos, and interpretations of the invasion. Alternate media is providing depth of perspectives and (usually) critical analysis. Rather than trying to curate all of that, we thought we'd offer a few resources that might be useful for simply framing this crisis with secondary Social Studies students, or to provide launching points for further inquiry. Some of these links are also intended to give teachers food for thought as they consider "what and how much" of this crisis to explore with students. Please let us know if you come across a compelling resource that you think belongs here.
This "RealLifeLore" video from a series on modern conflicts, provides a compelling background on the crisis in Ukraine. From 0:29-9:00 minutes, "what Russia wants" is interpreted through the lens of geopoltiics -- the proximity or Russia to Nato allies in Eastern Europe. From 9:00-17:02, the motivation is related to control of energy resources -- and the role of Ukraine in the movement of gas, and oil, and potential gas reserves in the Black Sea near Crimea. 17:03-19:07 takes on the lens of climate and water conflict. 19:08-26:23 discusses Nato and the possible recapture of Crimea, the demographic challenges faced by Russia, and developments leading to the present conflict. 26:24-28:24 compares the current invasion to that of Georgia in 2008, then Crimea and Donbas in 2014. The rest of the video is advertisement for the creator's non-free videos.
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Teaching Resource on "Ukraine History & Context: Russia starts a war on Ukraine" -- a google doc created and curated by Surrey teacher Nicole Jarvis. She includes a number of tips for working through this crisis of global concern with students, and links to this story as it unfolds on social media and elsewhere.
Here is an excellent primer and background on the crisis from Slocan Valley teacher Danny Leeming (Google Slides) -- 20th and 21st Century History:Ukraine and the Legacy of the Cold War in 2022.
Both Jarvis' shared doc and Leeming's Slides include a link to a good introduction to the crisis, a Jan 2022 episode of Start Here from Al Jazeera. This is a student friendly background on the current attack on Ukraine.
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The Atlantic has published some excellent articles on the topic (first 3 visits are free, so choose wisely!):
![]() How the Crisis in Ukraine May End by Derek Thompson https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/how-crisis-ukraine-will-end/622942/
![]() Photos: Chaos and Resistance in Ukraine by Alan Taylor
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2022/02/photos-chaos-and-resistance-ukraine/622947/ ![]() What's Behind Putin's Dirty Violent Speeches by Leon Aron
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/vladimir-putin-dirty-language-cursing/622924/ ![]() Bury the Old World Order by Tom McTague
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2022/02/us-europe-russia-putin-new-world/622917/ Latest Russia-Ukraine updates: US to impose sanctions on Putin.
Feb 25, 2022, Al Jazeera News. |
For teachers on the facebook, the BC Social Studies Teachers's Association has a group (search for BCSSTA) -- if you join, there are some productive discussions, links, and resources on Russian's invasion of Ukraine.
The graphic below was made and posted on Feb 24, 2022 by James Fitzgibbon: https://twitter.com/mrfitzhist/status/1496924060428742659?s=20&t=Es2_tP8GU8zdnAzLEq80uA
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Russia's Invasion of Ukraine in 5 Graphics
https://www.dw.com/en/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-in-5-graphics/a-60909241 |
Good collection of resources on The Ukraine Crisis from Brown University's Choices Program. Includes three videos a section on Understanding the Crisis in Ukraine and some good links to News coverage of this crisis by reputable mainstream news sources as well as some pro-Russian sources.
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The Guardian's coverage of NATO's response to Russian invasion of Ukraine | Feb 24, 2022
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Defiant Zelensky vows 'I'm here' after Russian attack | Feb 26, 2022
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Zelensky assesses support from European nations; calls out Hungary | March 25, 2022
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"The invasion of Ukraine is just like..."
Twitter thread on "Analyzing Historical Analogies" posted by Abby Reisman on Feb 25, 2022 in relation to the invasion of Ukraine: https://twitter.com/ReismanAbby/status/1497311788580409345?s=20&t=Es2_tP8GU8zdnAzLEq80uA The Ukraine crisis is a major challenge for China
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60492134 By Stephen McDonell BBC News, Beijing Feb 27, 2022 Includes link to "China and Taiwan: A really simple guide" from Jan 12, 2022. This topic is very much on people's minds -- China's reaction to the invasion of Ukraine will speak volumes about its intentions for Taiwan.
See also: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/2/28/as-russias-isolation-grows-china-hints-at-limits-of-friendship |
What's at Stake? https://www.smarthernews.com/ Feb 24, 2022
"Author/Journalist David Satter takes us through his time working in the Soviet Union, witnessing its collapse and the emergence of now Russian President Vladimir Putin. As the first American journalist expelled from Russia after the Cold War, David explains what he has learned in his more than 4 decades of reporting on Russian affairs and why this moment in time matters." Long video -- fascinating background for teachers; could provide some clips to shoe to students. Insight into the life and work of journalists. |
Here are two sources that could be the basis of a counterbalance activity, probably for senior students (e.g. Explorations 11, History Studies 12, Genocide Studies 12, Social Justice 12, Human Geography 12).
Kenyan U.N. ambassador compares Ukraine's plight to colonial legacy in Africa (NPR - Bill Chappell). Note the date: Feb 22, 2022 -- two days before the invasion.
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/22/1082334172/kenya-security-council-russia |
Feb 23, 2022 Response by Patrick Gathara via Al Jazeera News.
The Kenyan UN ambassador’s Ukraine speech does not deserve praise https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/2/23/what-the-kenyan-un-ambassador-got-wrong-about-colonialism |
On a somewhat related theme, there have been some provocative stories about how the crisis is gaining massive attention because it is taking place in a European region involving developed nations. Granted, Russia is a superpower with nukes, but the global racial bias in regards to conflict coverage is a theme worth exploring. Some sources on this perspective:
- ‘Double standards’: Western coverage of Ukraine war criticised: Social media users accuse the media of hypocrisy in its coverage of Russia’s war on Ukraine compared with other conflicts. Al Jazeera | Feb 27, 2022
- Russia-Ukraine war: Western media criticised for racist 'blonde hair blue eyes' coverage of invasion: Major news outlets have aired racist views - often using comparisons with the Middle East - since the invasion began. Middle East Eye | Feb 27, 2022
The bulk of news coverage and analysis of this crisis locates the blame on Putin and Russia. To be sure, Putin is a murderous self-appointed dictator, Russia's top oligarch and crime boss, who has destabilized globalized peace and enabled genocide, and no doubt has a blood-soaked resume from his time with the KGB. But does that automatically make Ukraine the "good guy?" Does that line of reasoning even matter when a country is invaded by an aggressor? Even looking past Russia's perceived threat of NATO encroachment (explained well in the "What Russia Wants With Ukraine" video at the top of this page), there may be other reasons or perspectives on this conflict that challenge the West's commitment to support Ukraine through sanctions, military aid, or further actions. There is a lot of disturbing garbage coming from the US Republican Party and right-wing media on this topic, but here is an example of a source, found on the twitter feed of Tyler Shipley, that problematizes Canada's support for Ukraine: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-officials-who-met-with-ukrainian-unit-linked-to-neo-nazis-feared-exposure-by-news-media-documents. Shipley's entire thread on this crisis is worth a read: https://twitter.com/le_shipster/status/1496947051103506438?s=20&t=0gBTHXGFR-KlgzO2d2OVRQ.