Overview:

The Foundation for the History of Totalitarianism’s annual essay competition for students in Years 12 and 13 is now open! The subject of the 2025 - 2026 competition is ‘The Holodomor’. The Holodomor was a man-made famine triggered by Stalin’s collectivisation of farms and removal of grain by force in Ukraine. Nearly 4 million Ukrainians starved to death. It was recognised as a genocide by the UK parliament in 2023.

There is no set question. It’s an opportunity for students who wish to broaden their knowledge of 20th-century history. Essays must be readable, include a full description of the famine and its causes, but beyond that, it is up to the writer. Including personal observations and reflections is essential.

Essays should be between 1,800 to 2,000 words, with 5-10 endnotes.

It is open to UK and international students.

Deadline:

The deadline is 25th January 2025.