Former Soviet leader’s descendent to reveal insight into the enigma of Russia
Wednesday 24 November 2010
Winston Churchill famously described Russia as “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma” but perhaps a key to understanding it will be a lecture at the University of Surrey. A descendent of the former leader of the Soviet Union Nikita Khruschev, who is also a leading academic in Russian politics will give a revealing insight into Russian foreign policy at a public lecture at the University on Wednesday 1 December.
Dr Nina Khruscheva is a distinguished Russian American Associate Professor in the graduate programme of International Affairs at the New School and the great granddaughter of former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev.
She has been critical of the current political situation in Russian politics. Due to her family connections and specialist knowledge of this area, she claims she became a focus of Russian interest when the Russian Spy Scandal in the US hit the news this summer.
The Department of Politics is hosting Dr Khruscheva’s Public Lecture “Russia Between Byzantium and Globalisation” which will examine Russia's relationship with the West through a historical journey that will also see her also evaluate her family's legacy. The lecture will be held at The Griffiths Lecture Theatre from 4pm to 6pm.
Dr Roberta Guerrina, head of the Politics Department at the University of Surrey, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to engage in a dialogue about Russia's relationship with the West. Dr Khruscheva's unique insights into Russian politics will help us to understand some of the controversies surrounding Anglo-Russian relations today".
Dr Khruscheva is currently working on a book entitled “Khruschev's Son: A Family Journey into the Gulag of the Russian Mind.” This text provides a unique and personal insight into the legacy of Khruschev.
Editors' Notes
Dr Nina Khruscheva is a distinguished Russian American Professor at the New School and a Senior Fellow at the World Policy Institute in New York. After studying for her degree from Moscow State University, Dr Khruscheva received her Ph.D from Princeton University.
Dr Khruscheva writes regularly for international publications on the state of Russian politics and makes frequent media appearances such as on CNN's World View. With her critical approach to the current situation of Russian politics and her family connections, it should come as little surprise then that when the Russian Spy Scandal hit the news this summer, Dr Khruscheva discovered she had been a surveillance target.
Media Enquiries
Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 686141, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
