Economists and political scientists wrestle with the challenges faced by Russian officials and public alike in adapting to a market economy and democracy, including the fragility of property rights and elections still rooted in old institutional structures. Historians and anthropologists explore the issue of nostalgia, gender, punishment, belief, and how history itself is being created and perceived today.

This collection of essays focuses on forgotten figures, events, and policies of twentieth century Europe and America. At first glance, the topics seem disparate, covering a range of time periods and regions, from pre-WWI Germany to post-WWII America, yet each raises similar questions about inter-relationships between states, the ways in which the struggles of the age shaped the lives of individuals, and the roles individuals played in key historical events.