About Robin Gillham
Robin is keenly fascinated by Soviet history, especially the period following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the 1980s. He has written two dissertations on the social impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and traveled to the abandoned nuclear town of Pripyat and the exclusion zone. He also has a passion for the history of space exploration, photography, and Japanese folklore. He holds a BA in History from Bangor University and an MA in Russian and Post-Soviet Politics from UCL. In his spare time, he explores abandoned Soviet military bases and documents his experiences through his photography.
Education
MA Russian and Post-Soviet Politics
University College London, 2016
BA History
Bangor University, 2014
Areas of Expertise
About Robin Gillham
Robin is keenly fascinated by Soviet history, especially the period following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the 1980s. He has written two dissertations on the social impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and traveled to the abandoned nuclear town of Pripyat and the exclusion zone. He also has a passion for the history of space exploration, photography, and Japanese folklore. He holds a BA in History from Bangor University and an MA in Russian and Post-Soviet Politics from UCL. In his spare time, he explores abandoned Soviet military bases and documents his experiences through his photography.
Education
MA Russian and Post-Soviet Politics
University College London, 2016
BA History
Bangor University, 2014
Areas of Expertise
The Kronstadt Rebellion: A Turning Point in Soviet Russia
During the Russian Civil War, an uprising at the Kronstadt naval base in Saint Petersburg threatened the nascent Soviet Union.
How an Emperor Cult Forged Japan’s Militaristic State
The rise of fascism in Japan was influenced by myriad internal and external factors that turned a relatively isolationist nation into one of violent militarism.
The Underground Press Samizdat That Defied Soviet Censorship
Samizdat brought the works of Russian authors to the West and helped Soviet activists avoid censorship.
Protests in the Soviet Union: Resistance Behind the Iron Curtain
Despite the huge amount of state control on social life, people still managed to organize protests in the Soviet Union.
The Fall of Saigon: How Exactly Did the Vietnam War End?
The fall of Saigon was a chaotic series of events that brought the Vietnam War to an end.
8 Innovations From the Soviet Union
Throughout its history, the Soviet Union was a land of innovation, making progress in space exploration, sport, war, music, and fashion.
NASA’s Space Projects That Went Horribly Wrong
From the near-fatal Apollo 13 mission to the Challenger Shuttle disaster, the history of American space exploration has been punctuated by catastrophes.
The Polish-Soviet War: Conflict and Uncertainty in Post-WWI Poland
The fragile peace that followed World War I was brought to a harsh end in Eastern Europe when Poland and the Soviet Union went to war.
1993 Russian Constitutional Crisis: Yeltsin’s Showdown With Parliament
The 1993 Russian Constitutional Crisis was a showdown between President Boris Yeltsin and the Parliament. How did this happen, and what were the lasting consequences?
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project: A Soviet-American Handshake in Space
At the height of the Cold War, astronauts from the US and USSR worked together to realize the remarkable Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
Shock Therapy in Russia: The Economic Upheaval of the 1990s
To jumpstart the economy after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia used a radical policy of shock therapy. What was it and how did it work?
The Bataan Death March: A Journey Through Hell
The Bataan Death March was one of the darkest episodes for Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II.