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Historian Camilla Schofield explores a century-long thread of communism in Britain.

Like fascism, we often think of communism as alien – as an external threat – a threat to the British way of life. But what happens if we challenge that a little – and think about communism as a British story?

Today’s programme explores the crises within the communist movement in the wake of the revelations contained in Nikita Khrushchev’s ‘secret speech’ in February 1956.

Featuring:
David Aaronovitch, journalist and broadcaster, son of Sam and Lavender Aaronovitch
Lucy Gaster, former social researcher, daughter of Jack and Moira Gaster
Ben Harker, University of Manchester, author of The Chronology of Revolution
Kennetta Hammond Perry, Northwestern University, author of London is the Place for Me

Includes extracts from an interview with Eric Hobsbawm by Michael Ignatieff, first broadcast on The Late Show, 24th Oct 1994, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.

With grateful thanks to Geoff Andrews, Shirin Hirsch and Kevin Morgan.

Producer: Martin Williams