This thesis examines the Soviet AIDS epidemic as a social and political crisis rather than solely a medical one. Through newspapers, diaries, and government documents, the research reveals how AIDS contributed to growing public distrust in Soviet institutions and became part of the broader crises preceding the collapse of the Soviet Union.

My thesis uncovers the forgotten history of the US Children’s Bureau, once a global leader in children’s rights. Through archival research, it traces postwar innovation, a 1960s expansion inspired by civil rights, and the bureau’s dismantling under Nixon. The work highlights today’s parallels and the need to restore moral leadership for children.