Robert Conquest has made an exceptional contribution to the world’s understanding of Soviet and other communist political systems. His work today continues to illuminate their origins, character, and institutional and moral failures. Conquest’s numerous studies also shed light on political violence and repression under various social and historical conditions. His emphasis on the connections between political beliefs and behaviors are particularly enlightening and relevant.

In honor of Robert Conquest’s work, participants at this conference will further explore the roots, manifestations, effects, and legitimations of political violence and repression in different historical and social settings. Topics include case studies of repression in the Soviet Union, post-communist Russia, China, Cuba, and postcolonial Africa; the role of intellectuals in interpreting and legitimizing political violence and repression; and comparisons of communist and contemporary Islamic political violence.

The conference presentations will be the basis of a forthcoming book on political violence and repression in our times.