The Long View

Michael Kimmage speaks with Celeste Marcus about the life and legacy of Chaim Soutine. The conversation explores Soutine’s childhood in present-day Belarus, his move to Paris and the ways identity, displacement and environment shaped his art. Marcus discusses the energy that defines Soutine’s work, the influence of nationalism and conflict on artists of his era and the contrasting interpretations...

Western business in post Soviet Russia was full of hope, risk, and hard lessons. Charles Hecker and Thane Gustafson break down what Western companies expected, what they encountered, and how geopolitics shaped everything. They also discuss their new books,  Zero Sum  and  The Perfect Storm , and share insights on what the future of Western business in Russia might look like.

In this episode, we sit down with historian Michael David-Fox to discuss  Crucibles of Power: Smolensk Under Stalinist and Nazi Rule . The conversation goes deep into the historical significance of Smolensk, unpacking how this city became a unique lens for understanding life under two brutal regimes. We explore the complexities of archival research, the experiences of ordinary people during WWII,...