Not one inch eastwards?: A Black Coffee Morning with Mary Sarotte

– , Berlin time (CEST, UTC+2)
Venue: ECFR Berlin, Unter den Linden 17, 10117 Berlin

Guests

Mary Elisa Sarotte, distinguished professor of historical studies, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies

Chaired by

Jana Puglierin, head, ECFR Berlin & senior policy fellow, ECFR

Since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the history of NATO’s eastward expansion has once again been the subject of controversy in Germany. On the occasion of the release of “Nicht einen Schritt weiter nach Osten“, the German edition of her acclaimed book “Not one Inch. America, Russia and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate”, Mary Sarotte will discuss the results of her research with us and present her perspective on the post-cold war geopolitics. 

Was there a promise by Western leaders not to expand NATO eastward as the Soviet Union was collapsing? How did NATO’s eastward expansion come about and how did post-Soviet Russian leaders react to it? Were there alternatives for NATO to taking on new allies? How much of the tensions between Russia and the West does NATO’s post-cold war enlargement actually explain?

A light breakfast will be provided. Please note that seating is limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. The event will be conducted in English.