A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev (The New Cold War History)

Western interpretations of the Cold War--both realist and neoconservative--have erred by exaggerating either the Kremlin's pragmatism or its aggressiveness, argues Vladislav Zubok. Explaining the interests, aspirations, illusions, fears, and misperceptions of the Kremlin leaders and Soviet elites, Zubok offers a Soviet perspective on the greatest standoff of the twentieth century. Using recently declassified Politburo records, ciphered telegrams, diaries, and taped conversations, among other sources, Zubok explores the origins of the superpowers' confrontation under Stalin, Khrushchev's contradictory and counterproductive attempts to ease tensions, the surprising story of Brezhnev's passion for detente, and Gorbachev's destruction of the Soviet superpower as the by-product of his hasty steps to end the Cold War and to reform the Soviet Union. The first work in English to cover the entire Cold War from the Soviet side, A Failed Empire provides a history different from those written by the Western victors. Western Interpretations Of The Cold War--both Realist And Neoconservative--have Erred By Exaggerating Either The Kremlin's Pragmatism Or Its Aggressiveness, Argues The Author. Explaining The Interests, Aspirations Illusions, Fears, And Misperceptions Of The Kremlin Leaders And The Soviet Elites, The Author Offers A Soviet Perspective On The Greatest Standoff Of The Twentieth Century. The Soviet People And Stalin Between War And Peace, 1945 -- Stalin's Road To The Cold War, 1945-1948 -- Stalemate In Germany, 1945-1953 -- Kremlin Politics And Peaceful Coexistence, 1953-1957 -- The Nuclear Education Of Khrushchev, 1953-1963 -- The Soviet Home Front: First Cracks, 1953-1968 -- Brezhnev And The Road To Détente, 1965-1972 -- Détente's Decline And Soviet Overreach, 1973-1979 -- The Old Guard's Exit, 1980-1987 -- Gorbachev And The End Of Soviet Power, 1988-1991. Vladislav M. Zubok. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [417]-453) And Index. "In this widely praised book, Vladislav Zubok argues that Western interpretations of the Cold War have erred by exaggerating either the Kremlin's pragmatism or its aggressiveness. Explaining the interests, aspirations, illusions, fears, and misperceptions of the Kremlin leaders and Soviet elites, Zubok offers a Soviet perspective on the greatest standoff of the twentieth century. Using recently declassified Politburo records, ciphered telegrams, diaries, and taped conversations, among other sources, Zubok offers the first work in English to cover the entire Cold War from the Soviet side. A Failed Empire provides a history quite different from those written by the Western victors. In a new preface for this edition, the author adds to our understanding of today's events in Russia, including who the new players are and how their policies will affect the state of the world in the twenty-first century."--Book cover The Soviet people and Stalin between war and peace, 1945 Stalin's road to the cold war, 1945 -1948 Stalemate in Germany, 1945 -1953 Kremlin politics and "peaceful coexistence," 1953 -1957 The nuclear education of Khrushchev, 1953 -1963 The Soviet home front: first cracks, 1953 -1968 Brezhnev and the road to detente, 1965 -1972 Detente's decline and soviet overreach, 1973 -1979 The old guard's exit, 1980 -1987 Gorbachev and the end of Soviet power, 1988 -1991. Explaining The Interests, Aspirations, Illusions, Fears, And Misperceptions Of The Kremlin Leaders And Soviet Elites, This Book Offers A Soviet Perspective On The Greatest Standoff Of The 20th Century. It Explores The Origins Of The Superpowers' Confrontation Under Stalin, And The Surprising Story Of Brezhnev's Passion For Detente. Argues that Western interpretations of the Cold War have erred by exaggerating either the Kremlin's pragmatism or its aggressiveness. Explaining the interests, aspirations, illusions, fears, and misperceptions of the Kremlin leaders and Soviet elites, this book covers the Cold War from the Soviet side.