History: History: Russia from Stalin to the Collapse of the Soviet Union

In 1924 Russia was emerging from a decade of war,

revolution and civil war. The economy and society were

in melt down. Having won the war, could the Bolsheviks

win the peace? They would be obliged to do so without

Lenin following his death after a series of strokes.

After a vicious power struggle he was succeeded by

Stalin, a man underestimated for much of his life. It

would fall to him to take the Revolution forward.

In doing so there would be successes and failures.

Modernising industry was a success albeit at appalling

human and environmental cost. Collectivising

agriculture a huge mistake that crippled Soviet food

production for decades.

All changes were underpinned by a regime based on

Terror. Did Stalin distort the Revolution or had the

course already been set by Lenin?

The State which emerged proved incapable of reform

whether under Khruschev, Brezhnev or Gorbachev. Was

it a misconceived idea made to work surprisingly well or

a sound idea undermined by human failure in

implementation?

The course is for anyone interested in Russian history.

No prior knowledge is necessary.