Circus ÚSTR: The East, Near and Far

Although the Soviet and Chinese communists of the 20th century swore by Marxism-Leninism and the “liberation” struggle, in many ways they followed the traditions of Russian and Chinese imperialism. It is imperialism (and nationalism) with totalitarian elements that we recognise today in the belligerence of fascist Russia and “the people’s” China. Similarly, in the Middle East, the one-time Eldorado of the communist movement, we are confronted with Arab nationalism and Islamism, often of a totalitarian nature, and especially Persian imperialism, an active sponsor of Islamist terrorism. Once the communist East and the free West stood against each other; today, however, revisionist powers like Russia, China and Iran dream of a post-Western world. What is the difference between old-fashioned totalitarianism and imperialism? Where to look for the historical roots of these phenomena? What chance have freedom and democracy got?

Guests: sinologist Olga Lomová, political geographer Michael Romancov and commentator Jan Fingerland.

Chaired by historian and philosopher Petr Hlaváček, director of the Department of Research and Education at ÚSTR (the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes).