1956

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In post-World War II European history, the years 1945, 1968, and 1989 are recognized as transformative moments, but 1956 emerges as a significant marker of global change. This year witnessed Khrushchev’s denunciation of Stalin, the Polish and Hungarian revolutions, and the Suez Crisis, making it one of the most violent years of the Cold War. The superpower rivalry during this time influenced every aspect of life globally. Concurrently, 1956 saw the emergence of global movements and a shared consciousness, challenging the dominance of powerful nation-states as borders became more porous to goods, people, and ideas, alongside the looming threat of nuclear conflict. This volume compiles new scholarship based on original research that transcends national boundaries, offering a long-term perspective on the events of that pivotal year. It stems from two conferences held in 2005: one in Slovakia focused on "The European 1956" and the other in Australia addressing "The Global 1956." The editors and thirteen authors from various countries examine key historical questions from 1956, including the Cold War, decolonization, and the emergence of a new global culture. The book is structured into four sections, integrating new archival findings with contemporary historiographical approaches, covering the Cold War's heart, upheavals in European communism, the birth of the Common Market, and other global issues that shaped the following decade