MTH Episode 1: Prof. Taubman on the psychology of Nikita Khrushchev and his impact on the USSR

Better late than never is my motto for this week. I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to speak to Professor Taubman, author of the critically acclaimed and definitive biography of Khrushchev: "Khrushchev, the man and his era." Nikita Khrushchev is probably one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Soviet Union. Both a symbol of peaceful coexistence, but also responsible for some of the most tense moments of the Cold War. His reputation at home was no less volatile. In this episode Professor Taubman explains the impact of Khrushchev's personality on his actions as a Soviet leader, covering a diverse range of topics from economic reform to the Cold War. 

There is some interesting discussion here about the use of the psychological approach in profiling Khrushchev. This lends Professor Taubman and interesting angle on many of the issues of the Khrushchev period. Neither inherently western, nor revisionist in outlook, he provides a fascinating insight into a very complex man.

Professor Taubman's excellent book can be found via Amazon HERE and we can look forward to his newest work, a biography of Gorbachev, due in a few years. I have also attached a very brief summary of the main points of our discussion for revision purposes.

I would be very interested in any comments or feedback on this episode. Remember to subscribe to the whole series using the links on the right. Mobile users will need to click on these or the image.

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