Please join the KU Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREES) for a Brownbag Lecture by Dr. Ihor Lylo of the KU History Department.

Dr. Lylo's talk is titled "'Homo Sovieticus' at War: How Historical Myths Kill," and will take place on Tuesday December 5 at 12pm in Bailey Hall Rm. 318.

There are many well-known examples of totalitarian regimes that justified aggressive actions using historical, ethnic, racial, or religious myths. Today, these ideas continue to provoke conflicts in different parts of the world. However, the technologies used for their dissemination and objectives have changed significantly. The story of the lost "communist paradise" is one such myth and still has many apologists, including people who never lived in the USSR. They are often stereotypically described as "homo sovieticus". However, this definition is too simple. This presentation will discuss the phenomenon of the popularity of this myth and its dangers.

Dr. Ihor Lylo is a specialist in cultural diversity, and history, with a particular focus on Ukraine and Poland. He is the author of books on the subject and a Fulbright scholar. He has worked as a professor at a range of leading institutions in the United States and Europe, including Ivan Franko National University (Ukraine), Ukrainian Catholic University, Jagiellonian University (Poland), University of California, San Diego, and the University of Kansas, where he is currently Visiting Professor in our Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies. His research makes important contributions to our understanding of the history and culture of Eastern Europe.