Charles Shaw

He is a social and cultural historian of the Soviet Union, with particular emphases on Central Asia, the Second World War, and comparative empires. At CEU, he teaches seminars on the Russian Revolution, Central Asia, transnational and imperial history, the Soviet and global experiences of World War II, and biography and history. He welcomes M.A. and Ph.D. applicants interested in topics related to the social and cultural history of the Soviet Union and Central Asia.

His book project, When Muhamed Became Misha: Soviet Central Asia in World War II, examines how the war transformed the Soviet empire and Central Asia’s place within it.

His current research topics include the entertainer Tamara Khanum, humor and satire during World War II, and photography and war. His next project, tentatively titled The Soviet Silk Road, will investigate Central Asia’s role in the Cold War, with a focus on the emergence of tourist infrastructure, architectural preservation, and Soviet oriental studies in order to explore the region’s status as custodian of cultural traditions shared with its neighbors to the south.