On December 7, 2018 , UIBE’s School of International Relations hosted a seminar on Russia’s Cold War research. The event was attended by Professor Olga Pavlenko, Vice President of the Russian State University for the Humanities and a Cold War historian, who lectured over the history of the Cold War in in the Soviet Union and the progresses achieved by Russia in this field. Professor Dai Changzheng, Dean of the School of International Relations, attended the forum and delivered a speech.

(Professor Dai Changzheng, Dean of the School of International Relations)

Dean Dai introduced the importance of Cold War research among the current major international issues and pointed out the particular significance of Cold War studies in identifying, predicting and avoiding similar patterns. He introduced the academic achievements of Professor Pavlenko and welcomed her to offer a guest lecture.

Professor Olga Pavlenko believes that the declassification of a large number of archives in the former Soviet Union after the Cold War provides a valuable database for Cold War historians around the world. She introduced the students to the world's major academic centres on Cold War history and the progresses registered in this field by the Russian State University for the Humanities. She is planning to identify and study the materials related to Chairman Mao's visit to the Soviet Union and publish them in China and Russia. Professor Pavlenko further analysed the misunderstandings in the Cold War research, pointing out many fallacies associated with the former Soviet leaders such as Stalin and Khrushchev. She also pointed out that, in the latter part of the Cold War, the irresponsible fiscal and financial policies of other Eastern European socialist countries in the socialist camp caused large debts.

These debts has to be covered by the former Soviet Union eventually. It was the burden of these allies, in Pavlenko’s view, which eventually lead to the crash of the Soviet Union. During the Q&A session, the students engaged in stimulating conversations with the Russian academic. Professor Olga Pavlenko welcomed the students to study and conduct research in Russia.

( Professor Professor Olga Pavlenko )

( Prof. Taras Ivchenko )

Professor Yi Fucheng, Dean of the Confucius Institute at the Russian State University for the Humanities, Professor Zhang Rui, the Dean of the Confucius Institute in China, and Prof. Wang Bo , the Vice Dean of the School of International Relations, actively engaged in the discussion. Lu Yi, the secretary of the School’s party branch committee, and more than 40 undergraduate and postgraduate students attended to lecture.

(Professor Zhang Rui)

(classmates answer questions)

(Lecture site)

(photo group photo)