Simon Dixon

In this discussion, guests Ruth Kinna, a political theory professor, Lee Dugatkin, a biology professor, and Simon Dixon, a Russian history expert, delve into the life of Peter Kropotkin, the Russian prince turned anarchist. They explore Kropotkin's radical ideas on mutual aid, challenging Darwinian views of survival, and his influential writings that shaped anarchist thought. The guests also highlight Kropotkin's interactions with Lenin, his time in exile, and the enduring relevance of his cooperative principles in both society and nature.

Simon Dixon, an expert in Russian history, Naoko Shimazu, a specialist in Japanese society, and Oleg Benesch, a reader in modern history, delve into the tumultuous Russo-Japanese War. They discuss Japan's audacious attack on Port Arthur, igniting global tensions, and how rapid modernization transformed its military and society. The conversation highlights Russia's naval mishaps, the clash of honor and duty among Japanese soldiers, and the war's lasting impact on national identity and anti-colonial sentiment in Japan.

Shane O'Rourke, historian of Russian social and political life; Simon Dixon, expert on Muscovite and Imperial Russia; Sarah Hudspith, scholar of 19th‑century Russian literature and peasant culture. They explore the origins and scale of serfdom, daily serf life and literary responses, the politics behind the 1861 reform, its terms and practical limits, and the social and cultural consequences that followed.