“A phenomenon that defied prevision"

On the centenary of the Bolshevik Revolution, David Kaufman (Edinburgh) examines the impact of the October Revolution and the subsequent Leninist challenge to the international system on the ‘collective mind' of the British government.  Analysing Bolsheviks and Bolshevism in practice provided a challenge to British decision-makers, shaped as they were by inherited political tradition, racial, class and national prejudices.  The universalist ideology of communism was seen by British policy-makers to be a domestic threat to Britain as well as to her Empire.  

This event is free and open to everyone.