History - The Cold War 1945 to the Present Day

This course is for students who are keen to develop their understanding of the modern world, those with an interest in history in general and world history, politics and current affairs in particular

 For the first session students will need an interest in history, an open mind, a desire to learn and a willingness to enquire and question

 The course aims: The course will offer analysis of the origins of the Cold War, the main events of the conflict itself and the way in which the years since 1989 show that the tensions remain and have found new expressions that continue to shape the world. It aims to have insights and understandings as to why the there are such profound issues around trust, respect, wealth and control to this day.

The course will cover:

The changing relationship between the major western powers, most notably the USA, Britain and France, and the major Eastern Powers, most notably the USSR/Russia, the Eastern Bloc and China, between 1945 and the present day.

Key topics will include:

An overview of the growing tensions between East and West before the Second World War;

• The Second World War including the changed relationship between the East and West, the roles of major political figures, the impact of the war on the key countries;
• The Cold War including the origins, personalities, ideologies and major events between 1945 and 1989, including Marshall Aid, the Chinese Revolution, NATO, the Red Scare, the Arms Race, the Space Race, wars and revolutions, detente and human rights;
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the ‘collapse of Communism’ including the idea of the end of history, the troubles of the West, the weakness of Russia and the rise of China
• Thoughts around the new world order as the balance of power shifts from the West towards the East and how events from the Cold War influence that relationship
• Analysis of Vladimir Putin and his regime