The Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center is a US Department of Education-designated National Resource Center, committed to providing information and service to K-16 teachers. If you are interested in the Center’s workshops, onsite presentations, or curricular materials, please contact the Center at reec@illinois.edu or check its Web page. The Web page features a special section for K-12 teachers under Outreach, which includes an extensive annotated bibliography of resources, information on the Center’s multimedia lending library, annotated links to relevant Web sites, and more.

Books
Reviewed by Elizabeth Talbot

Corrigan, Jim. Kazakhstan. Harmon, Daniel E. Kyrgyzstan. Robbins, Gerald. Azerbaijan. “The Growth and Influence of Islam in the Nations of Asia and Central Asia” series. Mason Crest Publishers, 2005. (Gr. 8-12)
An emphasis on geopolitics gives these volumes a cohesive focus and an interest level not usually found in country studies. These well-written books are outstanding and would make excellent purchases for both school and public libraries.

Cunningham, Kevin. Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union. Morgan Reynolds Publishing, 2006. (Gr. 8-12)
This biography of Stalin, which emphasizes his role in the creation and evolution of the Soviet Union, is an engaging read that attends both to the broader historical context and to explanations of Stalin’s brutality. The illustrations—including maps and reproductions of cartoons, posters, and paintings—are an added bonus. The book is an excellent acquisition both for public and school libraries.

Frucht, Richard, ed. Eastern Europe. 3 volumes. ABC-CLIO, 2005. (Gr. 9+)
In this project, “Eastern Europe” applies to countries in Europe’s geographical east that are in various stages of application and membership in the European Union, as well as to the Balkan Peninsula. The essays on individual countries, written by respected social scientists, contain effective comparisons between countries in the region. These volumes provide a useful supplement to the material covered in European history survey courses as well as detailed explanations for students seeking an advanced understanding of the region.

Stoff, Laurie, ed. The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union. “Opposing Viewpoints in World History” series. Gale/Thomson Learning, 2006. (Gr. 11+)
Following a 12-page introduction to Soviet history, each chapter of this book provides several viewpoints on a debatable topic preceded by a summary of background information on that topic. The introductions are good but assume a more complex understanding of Soviet history than such a limited space can offer. The book will be useful for teachers who like the format of the series and can expand on the historical content.

Videos

Faultlines—The Search for Political and Religious Links: Russia 2003
37 min. Films for the Humanities and Social Sciences production.
One of a six-part series, this program examines the resurgence of the Russian Orthodox Church and how its aspirations to spiritual and political power pose a threat to the fundamental freedoms of many Russians. Other documentaries in this series explore the relationship between religion and politics in Israel, Iran, India, Brazil, and the U.S.

Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good 2002, 2005
64 min. Director: Matej Minac. Available through the National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeis University.
Winner of the International Emmy Award in 2002, this Czech-made documentary recounts the story of Nicholas Winton, who arranged the emigration of 669 Jewish children form Czechoslovakia to Great Britain from 1938 to 1939. Children and young adults should identify with the segments focusing on the children’s experiences. An included study guide contains discussion questions on the film and copies of the documents compiled by Winton during his rescue campaign.

Shostakovich against Stalin: The War Symphonies 1997
82 min. Director: Larry Weinstein. Available through Amazon.com.
This exceptionally produced documentary—featuring interviews with Dmitry Shostakovich’s family, friends, and colleagues; contemporary footage; and performances of the composer’s work—performs two related functions very well. First, it examines the relationship between Shostakovich’s musical oeuvre and his experiences under Stalinism, commenting on the composer’s views toward the Soviet regime and its leader. In the process, this documentary also conveys the terror experienced by the cultural elite during Stalin’s purges, the horror of World War II, and the uncertainty of the postwar period.

Web Resources
in memory of the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster

Chernobyl Information
This site includes links to facts and news about the disaster; informative online projects such as interviews and testimonies; a glossary of relevant terms; a large bibliography; links to organizations involved in the study or cleanup of Chernobyl and its affects; and more.

Inside Chernobyl
The main page for National Geographic’s April 2006 feature on Chernobyl, with a preview of the print article and links to the story’s photo gallery, field notes from the author, and a map of the soil contamination resulting from the accident.