Michaela Pohl

Michaela Pohl is an Associate Professor of History at Vassar College since 1999. She specializes in Soviet and post-Soviet history, focusing on the Soviet Union after Stalin, Kazakhstan, Chechen deportations, and Putin's foreign policy. Her research examines the intersection of state power, ethnic identity, and memory in regions affected by Soviet repression. Pohl holds a BA from The Evergreen State College and a PhD from Indiana University-Bloomington.

Her teaching includes courses on Russian imperial history and thesis methodology. Pohl's scholarship critically engages with Putin's militaristic policies, particularly his annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine, framing these as attempts to resurrect imperial ambitions. She has conducted fieldwork in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, including interviews with Chechen resistance figures. Her work frequently addresses the suppression of dissent and the role of propaganda in modern Russian politics.

Recent public engagements include speaking on Putin's war in Ukraine, drawing parallels between his Chechen campaigns and current tactics. Pohl emphasizes Putin's ideological fixation on reclaiming post-Soviet space, arguing this mindset risks domestic instability. Her publications span academic journals and public commentary, blending rigorous historical analysis with contemporary geopolitical critique.