Yalta is the place where in eight days the fate of the world was decided by three of the most towering political figures of the 20th century: Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin. While World War II was still raging on all fronts, the Big Three partitioned Germany, redrew the borders of Eastern and Central Europe as well as the Far East, designed the future world organization, and paved the road to the future Cold War. Using both Western and Soviet documentation we will discuss the…

L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900 and became an immediate success. Within two years it was adapted for the stage — which set off a long series of further adaptations for stage, silent and sound films, and a prequel novel, all continuing into this century. The most famous version is the 1939 MGM musical The Wizard of Oz, but the many other reinterpretations make for a fascinating history. Exploring literature, music, cinema, stage, and possible political narratives, this seminar is built around…

Fracking has substantially increased the supply of oil and gas in the United States, with major economic benefits. But it also raises questions about safety and environmental impacts. There is an ongoing public debate about the continued use of this technology. In this seminar we will learn about this newly developed technology. There are economic and environmental benefits resulting from its use, such as lower gasoline and natural gas prices plus reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However there are many questions — about ground water pollution, excessive use of…