Ivan Kurilla recently participated in the Reykjavík Summit 40th Anniversary Conference, held October 19–20 and organized by Pepperdine University and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.

Kurilla presented his paper, “Reykjavik: Changing the Adversary, Changing the Self,” as part of the conference session, “Bilateral Relations and the Infrastructure of Diplomacy.” The session examined the diplomatic relationships, institutions, and channels that shaped interactions between rival nations during the late Cold War.

The conference brought together scholars and policy experts from around the world to reflect on the significance and enduring legacy of the 1986 Reagan–Gorbachev Summit in Reykjavík, Iceland. Widely regarded as a pivotal moment in Cold War diplomacy, the summit helped lay the groundwork for improved U.S.-Soviet relations and future arms control agreements.

The conference agenda and list of participants are available on the conference website.