Today’s episode is the first of a two part programme with Dr Martin McCauley, formerly a senior lecturer in Russian and European history at the University of London. Dr McCauley has a long standing interest in the Soviet Union, having conducted research there in the late 1950s. He is the author of a wide range of books on the Soviet Union, including The Khruschev Era, and the excellent, Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union.

In this podcast, Dr Martin McCauley gives a broad overview of the rise and fall of the USSR. You can find the episode on the main MeetTheHistorians page HERE.

The Soviet Union came to an abrupt end in December 1991, with the resignation of Mikhail Gorbachev from his position as President of the USSR, leaving a multitude of affiliated and independent states in its wake. However, the union had been fragmenting for some time, and there is a good deal of historical debate about how far the end of the Soviet Union was inevitable, and the extent to which Gorbachev might be held accountable for its demise.

In this podcast, Professor Peter Kenez discusses the impact of Gorbachev on the Soviet Union. A worthwhile listen. You can find the episode on the main MeetTheHistorians page HERE.