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<b>Live Webcast/Book Discussion:</b> <i>Kim Il Sung in the Khrushchev Era</i>

Date & Time

Wednesday
Feb. 15, 2006
2:00pm – 3:30pm ET

Overview

To watch the live webcast, follow the links in the See Also box to the right of this screen.

6th Floor Boardroom
Woodrow Wilson Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20004

with
Balasz Szalontai, Department of Political Science, National University of Mongolia
James Hershberg, George Washington University
Hyung-ki Kim, Kyungnam University
Kathryn Weathersby, Cold War International History Project

Co-sponsored by the Wilson Center Press, the Center's Asia Program, and the Kennan Institute of Advanced Russian Studies

Drawing on extensive research in the rich records on North Korea held in Hungarian archives and broad knowledge of the communist world, this path-breaking book examines why and how North Korea became more despotic even as other communist countries underwent de-Stalinization during the Khrushchev era. Szalontai's analysis focuses on Kim Il Sung: his nationalism; his efforts to balance the need for foreign aid with his hope for an independent foreign policy; and what seems to be his good sense of timing in doing in internal rivals without attracting Soviet retaliation. Through a series of comparisons not only with the USSR but also with Albania, Romania, Yugoslavia, China, and Vietnam, the author presents an original and important interpretation of the forces responsible for shaping North Korea's unique form of communism.

Balázs Szalontai received his PhD in history from Central European University, Budapest, with a dissertation titled "The Failure of De-Stalinization in North Korea, 1953-1964: The DPRK in a Comparative Perspective." His M.A. thesis from CEU was titled "De-Stalinization in Eastern Europe, 1953-1958: A Comparative Political, Social and Economic Analysis." He was a visiting researcher at the Asiatic Research Center, Korea University, in the fall of 2004 and currently teaches in the Department of Political Science of the National University of Mongolia. His research interests include the modern history of Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, China, and Albania.

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Hosted By

Cold War International History Project

The Cold War International History Project supports the full and prompt release of historical materials by governments on all sides of the Cold War. Through an award winning Digital Archive, the Project allows scholars, journalists, students, and the interested public to reassess the Cold War and its many contemporary legacies. It is part of the Wilson Center's History and Public Policy Program.  Read more

Indo-Pacific Program

The Indo-Pacific Program promotes policy debate and intellectual discussions on US interests in the Asia-Pacific as well as political, economic, security, and social issues relating to the world’s most populous and economically dynamic region.   Read more

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