Authors

Mark Hurst¹;  ¹ Lancaster University, UK

Discussion

Keston College’s efforts to document the position of religious belief in communist lands are widely noted. Its samizdat archives formed a detailed repository of the situation regarding religious persecution in the Soviet bloc, offering an essential resource for those in the West. These resources were invaluable for activists and policymakers concerned about human rights issues in the Soviet bloc who sought to exert pressure on the communist superpower. By facilitating this flow of information, Keston became a thorn in the side of the Soviet authorities’ efforts to suppress dissenting voices, reputedly acquiring a reputation in the Soviet bloc as the ‘KGB’s bête noire’.

In this context, Keston’s history becomes intertwined with that of the Cold War, and those affiliated to it dismissed as ‘anti-Soviet’ Cold Warriors. This, however, fails to capture the nuanced motivations and concerns of the organisation. This paper challenges these binaries by highlighting the subtleties of Keston’s relationship with the Cold War, arguing that although Keston’s efforts were shaped by the Cold War landscape, the personal agency of its leadership, researchers and supporters should not be overlooked. Whilst informed by their Cold War context, Keston owes much to personal motivation, religious belief and academic interest. Looking beyond the ‘Cold War lens’ opens the space to critically assess Keston on its own merits, rather than as solely part of its political environment.