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History: 20th Century Communism – Rise & Decline With Dr Francis King From University of East Anglia
February 10 @ 11:10 - 11:55
In this History session, Dr Francis King, who lectures in Soviet, Russian and wider labour movement history at the University of East Anglia, will run an interactive talk for students on 20th Century Communism – Rise & Decline.
This session looks at one of the most significant and consequential political movements of the twentieth century – communism. Starting with the origins of the movement in nineteenth-century socialism, we explore the causes and consequences of the Russian revolution of 1917, and the assumptions of the founders of the Soviet state.
We then look at the development of the Soviet Union and the international communist movement it inspired, created and directed. The three decades after the end of World War Two represented communism’s heyday, as it provided the ideology and programme for many national liberation movements in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Finally, we consider the crisis and collapse of much of the world communist system in the 1980s and 1990s, and its subsequent evolution in its remaining strongholds. In particular we shall explore the mentalities of the time, considering how and why communists (and their opponents) saw things in the ways they did.
Lecturer Profile: Dr Francis King
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.
Suitable for: Aged 16+ pre-university students studying, or with a possible interest in studying, History and related disciplines. Student groups as well as students and teachers joining individually are very welcome.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students may wish to consider the topic in advance and questions they have. Students can also think about questions about studying at university level.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the speaker via typed comments and questions and/or via a microphone. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: