What does Vladimir Putin’s leadership of Russia mean for the United States? Jeff Leigh, Associate Professor of History at UW-Marathon County, will discuss Russia and Putin in a talk at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, at Edgar High School Auditorium, 203 E. Birch St., Edgar. This presentation is part of the History Speaks in Your Town series presented by the Marathon County Historical Society and the Continuing Education office of UW-Marathon County.

With the breakup of the Soviet Union and the unsuccessful presidency of Boris Yeltsin, Russia experienced a deep decline in its global significance. Since his rise to power in 2000, Vladimir Putin has successfully restored some of the power of previous Russian governments, however, and certainly forced the United States, the European Union, and his closer neighbors to take notice of the ability Russia once again possesses to influence affairs beyond its own borders. It is now, once again, imperative that Americans come to know this country and the man there who is so singularly in charge.

Jeff Leigh earned bachelor’s degrees in history and Russian studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia, then a master’s degree and in 1998 a doctorate in history from Indiana University. He has taught history full-time at UW-Marathon County since 2000. He serves on the Wausau School District Board of Education. He is the author of the just-released book Austrian Imperial Censorship and the Bohemian Periodical Press from 1848 to 1871: The Baneful Work of the Opposition Press is Fearsome.

This talk is free and open to the public. All donations are appreciated. Registration is not required.

For more information, please call the Marathon County Historical Society at 715-842-5750.