Who was more important in directing foreign policy in the period 1515-1529; King Henry VIII or Wolsey. Dr. Glenn Richardson, Senior Lecturer in History, St. Mary’s University College.

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How Far did Henry VIII Achieve his Aims: 1509 - 1514? Dr. Glen Richardson, Senior Lecturer, St. Mary’s University College.

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Fantastic interview of Stalin and Great Terror expert Professor J. Arch Getty, University of California, Los Angeles, conducted by Dr. James Harris, University of Leeds, editor of Stalin: A New History.This insightful conversation traces Professor Getty’s own interest in history, through his intellectual development, considering his major contributions to the study of Josef Stalin.

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“Stalin and The Great Terror’ by Professor J. Arch Getty, Professor of Modern Russian History, University of California, Los Angeles.

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Dr. Hester Barron, University of Sussex: ‘To What Extent was The First World War Responsible for the longer-term Liberal Decline?’

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Dr. Hester Barron, University of Sussex: Living Standards: Regional & Social Differences 1919-1939

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Radicalism & Civil Rights: Dr. Simon Hall, University of Leeds.

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Nonviolence & Civil Rights: Dr. Simon Hall, University of Leeds.

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John F. Kennedy & Civil Rights: Dr. Simon Hall, University of Leeds.

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Reasons for the Labour Landslide of 1945: Explanations given by Conservative Party in aftermath of election; Longer-term trends in society; Wartime politics; Composition of the electorate. Dr. Hester Barron, University of Sussex.

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Why did the General Strike not Succeed? Dr. Hester Barron, University of Sussex: Introduction; How far were the leaders of the TUC General Council responsible?; Government position (maintenance of law and order and support of the population); Aims of the strike; Conclusion

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The Russian Provisional Government is discussed by historians as a failure. It is presented as not taking decisive action on a range of pressing issues. It therefore lost popular support and was easily removed from power by the Bolsheviks in October 1917. This talk gives a more sympathetic account of the range of problems confronting [...]

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Leon Trotsky joined the Bolsheviks in August 1917 after many years of separation. He was nevertheless a key figure in the establishment and maintenance of Soviet power. It was Trotsky?s strategy by which the Bolsheviks came to power. As Commissar for Foreign Affairs, it was Trotsky?s ?no peace, no war? policy that in the debates [...]

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How important was Indian Independence (1947) in changing British attitudes to decolonisation during the period from 1945 to 1960? Dr. Chris Prior, University of Leeds: The significance of 1947; The British government’s view of India; Suez; A continued commitment to empire; Macleod and the ‘Winds of Change’; The Commonwealth.

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To what extent was imperialism a popular policy in Britain throughout the period from 1880 to 1902? Dr. Chris Prior, University of Leeds: The press; The musichalls and poopular culture; Opponents of empire; Different imperial policies.

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How far do you agree that the First World War marked a decisive chance in Britain’s control over its empire in the years 1870-1980? Dr. Chris Prior, University of Leeds: India - nationalism and imperial policy; White Dominions - self-government and bonds of interest; Africa - nationalism and local disturbances; Other factors - imperial overstretch [...]

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‘Were strategic or economic motives the more important factor in explaining Britain’s involvement in Africa during the period from 1868-1902?’ Historians and strategic matters; Historians and the economy; Assessing the two sides; Historical problems - provisions and provisos. Dr. Chris Prior, University of Leeds.

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The Leading Question in Chartist Historiography by one of the leading historians of Chartism: Dr. Malcolm Chase, University of Leeds.

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Soviet and Western historiography has for long identified Lenin as the most influential figure in explaining how the October Revolution of 1917 took place. This follows a comment in Trotsky?s diary of 1935 that the October Revolution would have occurred without him but only on condition that Lenin was present. This talk outlines how recent [...]

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Stalin is famous above all for a remarkable programme of economic development ? the establishment of a ?command-administrative system? that set targets for the transformation of the USSR?s economy in the form of five-year plans. This economic revolution also carried profound consequences for Soviet society. This talk outlines how Stalin?s changes ripped social ties apart [...]

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Causes, Course, Consequences: In 1905 Russia became famous as a centre of Revolution. The eyes of Europe were focused upon modern forms of discontent, especially the mass strike, in an old political order. This talk covers the beginnings, development and end of this remarkable period in late imperial Russia history. Was this an opportunity for [...]

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Survival and Consolidation: When the Bolsheviks declared a new government in October 1917 many a commentator, including many Bolsheviks, thought that it could not survive as a one-party regime. It would have either to give way to the Constituent Assembly or to transform itself into a broad coalition of socialists of all types. This talk [...]

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In recent years historians of the civil rights movement have moved their focus away from the charismatic leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. to explore the role played by “ordinary people” in the struggle for racial equality. While not denying King’s importance as a tactician, figurehead and orator historians have argued that, at root, the [...]

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The Battle of Hattin (1187): The Crusades - Professor Graham Loud, University of Leeds.

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The Second Crusade: 1147-1149: Professor Graham Loud, University of Leeds.

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This podcast explores the variety of approaches to the question of Stalin?s power. It considers the relative importance of a/ Stalin?s control of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party; b/ he opinion of both of the Party elite and rank and file, and c/ Soviet political culture in the 1920s. Dr. Harris [...]

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In this podcast Dr. Harris explains why all Bolsheviks agreed on the need to overcome economic backwardness. He explores why Soviet industrialisation took the form it did in the late 1920s, and then explores a fascinating paradox: How the Soviet planned economy in the 1930s was at once both a spectacular success and a catastrophic [...]

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Mussolini’s Foreign Policy in the 1920s & 1930s

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The Black Power Movement in the United States

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Researching History on the Internet

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In 1924 Congress passed the Johnson-Reed, or National Origins, Act, declaring racial and ethnic background as the most important determinant in gaining American citizenship. Those with Asian backgrounds were barred altogether. This session examines both the run-up to this crucial legislation and its impact on immigration up until it was superseded in 1966.

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Russia & The First World War: Dr. Sarah Badcock, University of Nottingham.

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The Russian Agrarian Crisis? Dr. Sarah Badcock, University of Nottingham.

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The 1917 Russian Revolutions: Dr. Sarah Badcock, University of Nottingham.

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This podcast examines Stalin’s foreign policy in the interwar years. Dr Kocho-Williams examines Stalin’s foreign policy aims during the 1930s, discussing the failure of collective security and the conclusion of the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939. The podcast covers the Soviet Union’s conduct of foreign policy using both diplomacy and the Communist International.

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This podcasts deals with Russia, Germany and the system of alliances created in the late 19th Century. These alliances would prove to be crucially important in the build up to the First World War. The alliances are looked at, and questions are asked as to how significant they were with respect to the First World [...]

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