Book chronicles Russia-Alaska citizen diplomacy after Cold War
July 5, 2017
The University of Alaska Press has released "Melting the Ice Curtain: The Extraordinary Story of Citizen Diplomacy on the Russia-Alaska
Frontier," by David Ramseur."Melting the Ice Curtain" is the story of how inspiration, courage and persistence by citizen-diplomats can bridge a widening gap in superpower relations. Joining hands across the Bering Strait in the face of dangerous Cold War tensions, Alaskans and Russians launched a 30-year era of perilous yet prolific progress. As the United States marks 150 years since Alaska’s purchase from Russia, "Melting the Ice Curtain" details a model of international cooperation sorely needed today.
Ramseur, who has visited the Soviet Union and Russia more than a dozen times since
1988, is a visiting scholar in public policy at the University of Alaska Anchorage's
Institute of Social and Economic Research. After working as a Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
reporter, Ramseur served in various roles with Alaska Govs. Steve Cowper and Tony
Knowles, and Anchorage Mayor and U.S. Sen. Mark Begich.
For more information about this title and many more, please visit www.uapress.alaska.edu or call 800-621-2736.