The collapse of the Soviet Union was one of the most significant geopolitical shifts of the 20th century. Today, more than three decades later, its legacy continues to shape the worldview of the Kremlin and the strategic ambitions of Vladimir Putin. As the possibility of a more permanent ceasefire in Ukraine looms, new questions arise about how Russia’s past informs its present—and what this means for the future of European and global security. Join the Oxford University International Relations Society for a fireside chat with Professor Vladislav Zubok as he reflects on the lessons of the Soviet collapse, the evolution of Russian grand strategy, and the enduring influence of Cold War memory on today’s geopolitical tensions.
This event is open to all members of the University of Oxford.
Professor Vladislav Zubok is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the author of several books, including Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union and A Failed Empire, and is the recipient of the Lionel Gelber Prize and the Marshall Shulman Prize, as well as a finalist for the Cundill Prize. Most recently, Professor Zubok published The World of the Cold War: 1945-1991. Originally from Moscow, Professor Zubok has held academic positions and fellowships at leading institutions in the US and Europe, and has advised on major documentary series such as CNN’s Cold War.
This event is open to all members of the University of Oxford.
Professor Vladislav Zubok is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is the author of several books, including Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union and A Failed Empire, and is the recipient of the Lionel Gelber Prize and the Marshall Shulman Prize, as well as a finalist for the Cundill Prize. Most recently, Professor Zubok published The World of the Cold War: 1945-1991. Originally from Moscow, Professor Zubok has held academic positions and fellowships at leading institutions in the US and Europe, and has advised on major documentary series such as CNN’s Cold War.