A look at how we catorgorise UK politicsl parties and what a Party system is and how we could approach an essay defining the type of party system that best describes the UK ..read more

In this episode we look at the cosntruction of the Berlin Wall in 1961. We link it back to Potsdam and the changes that had occured in the 1950s as well as the short term causes that ked to the construction of the physical wall. One of the pivitol moments of the Cold Wat with huge symbokic consequences for the course of the conflict, I hope this epsidoe gives you the important contextual information for understanding the significance of the bulding of the Berlin Wall and why Beelin was such a flashpoint in international relations during the Cold War ..read more

In this episode I look at the events in Hungary in 1956, looking at the context and issues, the reasons for reforms, the reforms and the Societ reaction. Most importantly, looking at the importnace for the wiser Cold War and how this episode finished the first oeriod of the Cold War, setting the dividing lines for the next 30 years ..read more

This is part of a series of episodes to compliment those studying the GCSE course Russia and the Soviet Union 1917-41. In this episode we look at ideas, development and support for three key groups; the Liberals, the Socialist Revolutionaries and the Social Democrats, who would, in turn, be split into the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. All three would go on to compete for control over Russia in 1917 so this will be important background to understanding what happened in 1917 ..read more

In this episode I look at the events in Eastern Europe in 1988-89 that resulted from Gorbachev's New Thinking and how they would lead to the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and freedom and political changes that would effectively end the Cold War in Europe ..read more

A look at Gorbachev and his New Thinking, including rhe impact it had on the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact and the Cold War with America ..read more

In this episode, I look at how the Cold War developed after the end of World War II, with the reasons and ways in which the USSR was able to assert control over eastern Europe, the American reaction including the Truman doctrine and Marshall Plan and the Berlin blockade and resulting airlift ..read more

A look at the period 1980-85 and the changing leadership in the USSR ..read more

Looking at Reagan’s more aggressive stance and the beginning of a more aggressive period in the Cold War after Detente ..read more

This is one of my UK politics podcasts, recorded in light of the 2019 election. There are two key parts to it; in the first part I consider the divisions between sections of the two main parties and the ideological divisions that have existed and how they, maybe, have resolved themselves; but maybe not. In the second part, I consider how parties matter in current UK politics, focusing on their role in relation to their key functions, with a bit of an exam focus for those that use these to help with their A Levels ..read more