When Soviet power collapsed between 1989 and 1991, the overwhelming view in the West was that liberalism had triumphed.
The world could look forward to a period of peace and prosperity, underpinned by globalisation backed by American power. Today all of that early optimism has faded, to be replaced by a deep fear that the world is once again dividing into two camps very much like the Cold War of old.
How have we arrived at this crossroads? What has caused it? Could it have been avoided? And will, what many are now calling a "new" Cold War, be as dangerous and as prolonged as the "first"?
Meet our speakers and chair
Barry Buzan is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ (formerly Montague Burton Professor); honorary professor at Copenhagen, Jilin, and China Foreign Affairs Universities; Senior Fellow at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ IDEAS; and a fellow of the British Academy.
Elizabeth Ingleson () is Assistant Professor in the Department of International History at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, and specialises in the histories of US foreign relations, US-China relations, capitalism, and labour. She is the author of Made in China: When US-China Interests Converged to Transform Global Trade (2024).
Vladislav Zubok is Professor of International History at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Head of the Russia International Affairs Programme at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ IDEAS. His expertise is on the Cold War, the Soviet Union, Stalinism, and Russia's intellectual history in the 20th century.
Michael Cox is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. He helped establish the Cold War Studies Centre at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ in 2004 and later co-founded ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ IDEAS in 2008 with Arne Westad.
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The Ralph Miliband Programme () was set up in 1996 thanks to a generous anonymous benefaction from a former PhD student inspired by 'Ralph Miliband's contribution to social thought'. He specified that the funds be used in memory of his friend and mentor 'to advance his spirit of free social inquiry' and the diversity of thought that has always been the hallmark of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.
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