KGB, Russian Academic Imperialism, Ukraine, and Western Academia, 1946–2024

Sergei I. Zhuk is professor of history at Ball State University.

• Introduction: Russian Academic Imperialism in the West and Soviet/Russian IntelligenceChapter 1: The KGB and Founding of the Soviet Studies Centers in Capitalist America, 1946-1960Chapter 2: The KGB and International Academic Connections in the USSR Academy of SciencesChapter 3: The “KGB People” in International Academic ExchangesChapter 4: The KGB Spies, Infiltration into American Society, and KGB “Sleeper Cells/Illegals”Chapter 5: The KGB, Ukrainian Diaspora in America, and Academic ExchangesChapter 6: “Academic Imperialism”: Writing Soviet and Post-Soviet History without Ukraine and the Role of the Russian Post-Soviet Immigration to the WestChapter 7: “The Agents of Influence”: Post-Soviet Oligarchs, Russian Intelligence Service and Slavic Studies Centers in the WestEpilogue: KGB Legacy and Failed “Westernization” of Russia Appendix: List of InterviewsBibliographyAbout the Author

In this stunningly revelatory book, Sergei I. Zhuk exposes Russia's clandestine operations to influence academics (especially in the anglophone world) to form (and present to the public) views favorable to Russia. From the appropriation of Kyiv-Rus' to Russia's on-going war against Ukraine, Moscow consistently and systematically has endeavored to forge the academic views of the world in its interests. Unfortunately, and to Moscow's great satisfaction, some of those most influential in academic circles have been manipulated, often without their noticing it, and have been propagating ‘Russian academic imperialism.’ Russia has gone about this in numerous ways, which the author discusses in detail. This volume will serve to alert those who have been blind to silent Russian influence operations in academia. In this sense, every scholar in the field should read this book.