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What was the Soviet empire, and how did its ideology operate? To what degree was it successful? Why did that ideology ultimately fail? What was the role of dissidence? Why, and how, did the nations of the region choose democracy? What was the nature of the reforms, and why were they chosen? How did the Soviet Union/Russia, successive US administration and the European Union shape those choices? Are we now witnessing a backlash to the choices of the 1990s? How does the experience of the past two decades continue to effect political leaders – Putin, Kaczynski, Orban, Merkel – in the present? This seminar is designed to develop the skills to read, write and discuss history, and the relationship between history and current events, in a critical fashion. No background in the history of the region is required. Some general knowledge of European twentieth-century history will help, but this is not for specialists. Everyone is expected to contribute to all discussions.