Maximilian Shepelev
UkraineBiography of Maximilian Shepelev
Maximilian Shepelev is a well-known Ukrainian philosopher and political scientist. He was born in Dnipro, Ukraine, into a family of lawyers. He completed his education at Dnipro National University, graduating in 1996, and then pursued his postgraduate studies at the same university, completing them in 1999. Shepelev currently works as a professor in the Department of Political Science at Dnipro National University, where he has been teaching since 2008.
Academic Achievements
In 2000, Shepelev defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic of "Planetary Dualism as a World System Phenomenon: Philosophical and Historical Analysis." He further expanded his research and in 2008, he successfully defended his second doctoral dissertation on the topic of "Globalization of Governance as a Megatrend of Contemporary World Development." Shepelev's expertise lies in the field of international relations theory, geopolitics, regional studies, civilology, and political psychology.
Political Views
Maximilian Shepelev is known for his pro-Russian Eurasian political views. He has shown a particular interest in the theories of Alexander Dugin and other reactionary thinkers. Shepelev does not hide his sympathies for fascism, claiming that Mussolini's regime in Italy was not fascist but dictatorial. He has expressed regret over the overthrow and execution of Mussolini and openly admired Franco and Salazar. Within the framework of his course on geopolitics, he criticizes the United States, referring to the American people as "militant idlers." In his lectures on political psychology, he begins by discussing theories of racism. He has made derogatory statements about indigenous people in Asia, Africa, and Australia, implying their racial inferiority, thus violating moral and legal norms. Shepelev strongly opposes Ukrainian statehood, frequently expressing anti-Ukrainian views during his lectures. He also displays intolerance towards Western democracies, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom.
Controversial Lecture
In February 2009, Maximilian Shepelev invited employees of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) to give a lecture to third-year political science students. Instead of delivering a scholarly lecture, the students heard blatant fascist propaganda. One of the guests criticized US policies and suggested that President Barack Obama was not African-American. According to the speaker, Obama is regularly "made up" to maintain the image of a racism-free United States. The absurdity of these remarks sparked outrage among the audience, and Shepelev and his "guests" were forced to leave the lecture hall.
