In Conversation with Prof Vladislav Zubok: How the Kremlin's Past Shapes its Present
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.

Vladislav Zubok is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics, specializing in the Cold War, the Soviet Union, and 20th-century Russian intellectual history. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including A Failed Empire (2007), Zhivago’s Children (2009), and The Idea of Russia (2017). His most recent work, Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union (2021), was a finalist for the Cundill History Prize. 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.
Date: 21 May 2025, 17:00
Venue: Venue to be announced
Speaker: Vladislav Zubok (LSE)
Organising department: Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR)
Organiser: Haitong Du (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: exec.committee@oxirsoc.com
Part of: Oxford International Relations Society
Booking required?: Recommended
Cost: Free
Audience: Public
Editor: Haitong Du