Twelve Controversies about Communism, Past and Present

The rise and fall of world communism was one of the great dramas of the 20th century, born in wars (World War I and World World II), offering an alternative modernity to that of the capitalist world, and ultimately succumbing to the pressures of Cold War, capitalist globalization, and popular disaffection. The result was either systemic collapse (the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe) or a fundamental alteration of key features of the communist economic system (China, Vietnam, Laos). Beyond these three, two unreformed communist regimes remain: North Korea, mired in Stalinism; and Cuba, mired in a brittle, oligarchic regime. 

This new course addresses controversial questions about the domestic and foreign policies of communist states. Past versions of the course presented a historical overview of the drama. 

Faculty Bio

George W. Breslauer is Professor of Political Science at UC Berkeley, where he has been a faculty member since 1971. He is the author or co-author of seven books, and the editor or co-editor of six others — all on aspects of Soviet, Communist, or post-Soviet politics and foreign relations. His most-recent book is The Rise and Demise of World Communism (Oxford University Press, 2021). In 1997, Professor Breslauer won the Distinguished Teaching Award of the Social Sciences Division. In 1998, he was appointed “Chancellor’s Professor” for combining exceptional performance in scholarship, teaching, and service to the University. In 2014, he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

This is an In-Person, Livestreamed + Recorded Course

• Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
• Classes will stream live simultaneously, and be video recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and ends on Wednesday, Feb. 26
• Classes meet for 6 weeks, 2 hours per session (10AM–noon)
• All course materials, including videos, will remain available to view and enjoy through Mar. 31

Member Praise for George Breslauer

I don’t quite know where to begin with my praise and appreciation. But let me start with a very big and sincere thank you to Professor Breslauer for the willingness to invest such time and thoughtfulness into preparing and providing such a fascinating course! I learned so much through and through.

For me, the highlights of each session were without doubt the Q&A when he responded to a wide variety of queries with well considered, nuanced and insightful wisdom that further illuminated the subject.

Faculty Q&A

• Read an interview with George Breslauer from our archive.