Kristy Ironside

Kristy Ironside is an Associate Professor and William Dawson Scholar in the Department of History and Classical Studies at McGill University. Her research focuses on Russian and Soviet history, with an emphasis on political, economic, and social dynamics from 1900 to the present. She holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Chicago.

Ironside’s work examines the intersection of ideology and material reality in the USSR, including monetary policy, welfare state development, and international economic relations. Her book A Full-Value Ruble (2021) analyzes Soviet efforts to build a prosperous communist society through monetary systems post-WWII. Current projects include studies on Soviet copyright law, the role of cultural diplomacy under Stalin, and the economic impact of McDonald’s in Russia.

Her research is supported by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Fonds de Recherche du Québec. Ironside is temporarily on leave but mentors graduate students in Soviet and Eastern European history, as well as international history topics. She frequently contributes media commentary on contemporary Russian socio-economic issues.