Personal summitry, more than structural factors, shaped the peaceful ending of and exit from the Cold War. This lecture shows how meetings between international leaders in the period 1985-91 fostered rapprochement and creative dialogue, and reflects on their continuing importance today.

Kristina Spohr is Deputy Head of the International History Department and Associate Professor at LSE. 

Rodric Braithwaite is a British diplomat and author. His diplomatic career included posts in Indonesia, Italy, Poland, the Soviet Union, and a number of positions at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. From 1988 to 1992 Braithwaite was ambassador in Moscow, first of all to the Soviet Union and then to the Russian Federation. Subsequently, he was the Prime Minister's foreign policy adviser and chairman of the UK Joint Intelligence Committee (1992–93). 

Roderic Lyne is Deputy  Chairman of Chatham House and Adviser, Russia and Eurasia  Programme. From 1970 to 2004 Sir Roderic was a member of the British diplomatic service. He was British ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2000 to 2004; UK permanent representative to the World Trade Organisation, the UN and other international organisations in Geneva from 1997 to 2000; and private secretary to the prime minister for foreign affairs, defence and Northern Ireland from 1993 to 1996. Between 1990 and 1993 he was head of the Soviet and then Eastern department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Between 1987 and 1990 he worked as head of chancery at the British embassy in Moscow.

Arne Westad is Professor of International History  at LSE and Director of LSE IDEAS.

Professor Stuart Corbridge is Deputy Director and Provost of LSE.

The Department of International History (@lsehistory) is one of the top five university history departments in the UK. 

LSE Works is a series of public lectures, that will showcase some of the latest research by LSE's academic departments and research centres. In each session, LSE academics will present key research findings, demonstrating where appropriate the implications of their studies for public policy. A list of all the LSE Works lectures can be viewed at LSE Works. 

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Podcast & Video 

A podcast and video of this event is available to download from Beyond the Cold War: how summits shaped the new world order

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