David Marples, BA, MA, PhD

Area of Study / Keywords

Ukraine Belarus Russia History Politics 20c 21c

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About

My focus in research is the history and politics of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia in the 20th and 21st centuries on which I have published widely with over 20 books and many articles. Most recently, I have a forthcoming book for Oxford University Press on Belarus with Belarusian scholar Veronica Laputska, which begins from the 2020 uprising and then moves from earliest times to the present. I have spent a lot of time in each of the three countries I study, though recent visits have been difficult because of Russia's war on Ukraine and a crackdown on opposition in Belarus. I am married to Aya Fujiwara, an assistant professor in the department, and we have twin girls aged nine. We spend quite a bit of time in Japan, and in 2025, I visited Europe four times for conferences (UK, Holland, Belgium, Lithuania). In my spare time, I walk my dogs (a 4-year old golden retriever and a 2-year old Pomeranian) and lift weights as my main exercise. I enjoy all sports and have the misfortune to follow Sheffield United (English soccer), and less painfully Edmonton Oilers, and Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese baseball league (my father-in-law in Kobe, Japan introduced me to this team). I am president of Gateway Skating Club in Edmonton--my daughters are both competitive skaters. 

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Research

My main research areas are 20th and 21st century Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.

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Teaching

History 322: 20c Russia

History 631: Problems in 20c Russian History

History 300: Russia Since Independence

History 121: Russia in the Cold War

History 114: The World in the Last Ten Years

History 104: The Atomic Age: The World After 1945

HIST 104 - The Atomic Age: The World After 1945

Introduction to key economic, political, and societal changes at the global scale.

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HIST 114 - The History of the World in the Last 10 Years

Global historical developments over the last 10 years with emphasis on the interaction of states and peoples.

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HIST 322 - Russia in the 20th Century

An historical survey of domestic and foreign policy, from Nicholas II to Yeltsin.

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HIST 419 - Topics in Soviet History

Prerequisite: 3 units in HIST at the 300-level or consent of Department.

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HIST 609 - Directed Study

This credit/fail course is required for students in the thesis-based M.A. program. Students are introduced to scholarship relevant to their research and supported in developing a research proposal.

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HIST 631 - Problems in 20th-Century Russian History

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HIST 699 - Research Seminar

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Browse more courses taught by David Marples

More Information

David R. Marples, Veronica Laputska

New York. 2026 February;

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David R. Marples,

Journal of Belarusian Studies. 2025 January; (January-March 2025):1-23

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David R. Marples, Katsiaryna Lozka

Prague, Czech Republic. 2024 February; (January-March 2024):9-17

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David R. Marples and Alla Hurska

Washington, DC. 2022 September;

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David R. Marples

Budapest, Hungary. 2022 January;

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David R. Marples

Canadian Slavonic Papers. 2021 December; 63 (3-4):278-295

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David R. Marples and Veranika Laputska

Europe-Asia Studies. 2021 August; 74 (1):19

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David R. Marples

Journal of Belarusian Studies. 2021 June;

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David R. Marples and Veranika Laputska

Slavic Review. 2020 October; Vol. 79, Fall 2020 (3):521-543

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David R. Marples

Bristol, UK. 2020 June;

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Aya Fujiwara and David R. Marples, Editors

Stuttgart, Germany and New York, USA. 2020 April;

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David R. Marples

Bristol, UK. 2017 April;

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David R. Marples and Frederick V. Mills

Stuttgart, Germany and New York, USA. 2015 April;

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David R. Marples

Stuttgart, Germany and New York, USA. 2014 June;

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David R. Marples

Harlow, Essex, UK. 2011 April;

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David R. Marples

Budapest, Hungary: Central European University Press. 2007 September;