The last empire: the final days of the Soviet Union: [updated with a new foreword]

On Christmas Day, 1991, President George H. W. Bush addressed the nation to declare an American victory in the Cold War: earlier that day Mikhail Gorbachev had resigned as the first and last Soviet president. The enshrining of that narrative, one in which the end of the Cold War was linked to the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the triumph of democratic values over communism, took center stage in American public discourse immediately after Bush’s speech and has persisted for decades—with disastrous consequences for American standing in the world.As prize-winning historian Serhii Plokhy reveals in __The Last Empire__, the collapse of the Soviet Union was anything but the handiwork of the United States. On the contrary, American leaders dreaded the possibility that the Soviet Union—weakened by infighting and economic turmoil—might suddenly crumble, throwing all of Eurasia into chaos. Bush was firmly committed to supporting his ally and personal friend Gorbachev, and remained wary of nationalist or radical leaders such as recently elected Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Fearing what might happen to the large Soviet nuclear arsenal in the event of the union’s collapse, Bush stood by Gorbachev as he resisted the growing independence movements in Ukraine, Moldova, and the Caucasus. Plokhy’s detailed, authoritative account shows that it was only after the movement for independence of the republics had gained undeniable momentum on the eve of the Ukrainian vote for independence that fall that Bush finally abandoned Gorbachev to his fate.Drawing on recently declassified documents and original interviews with key participants, Plokhy presents a bold new interpretation of the Soviet Union’s final months and argues that the key to the Soviet collapse was the inability of the two largest Soviet republics, Russia and Ukraine, to agree on the continuing existence of a unified state. By attributing the Soviet collapse to the impact of American actions, US policy makers overrated their own capacities in toppling and rebuilding foreign regimes. Not only was the key American role in the demise of the Soviet Union a myth, but this misplaced belief has guided—and haunted—American foreign policy ever since. On Christmas Day, 1991, President George H. W. Bush Addressed The Nation To Declare An American Victory In The Cold War: Earlier That Day Mikhail Gorbachev Had Resigned As The First And Last Soviet President. The Enshrining Of That Narrative, One In Which The End Of The Cold War Was Linked To The Disintegration Of The Soviet Union And The Triumph Of Democratic Values Over Communism, Took Center Stage In American Public Discourse Immediately After Bush's Speech And Has Persisted For Decades - With Disastrous Consequences For American Standing In The World. As Prize-winning Historian Serhii Plokhy Reveals In The Last Empire, The Collapse Of The Soviet Union Was Anything But The Handiwork Of The United States. On The Contrary, American Leaders Dreaded The Possibility That The Soviet Union - Weakened By Infighting And Economic Turmoil - Might Suddenly Crumble, Throwing All Of Eurasia Into Chaos.^ Bush Was Firmly Committed To Supporting His Ally And Personal Friend Gorbachev, And Remained Wary Of Nationalist Or Radical Leaders Such As Recently Elected Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Fearing What Might Happen To The Large Soviet Nuclear Arsenal In The Event Of The Union's Collapse, Bush Stood By Gorbachev As He Resisted The Growing Independence Movements In Ukraine, Moldova, And The Caucasus. Plokhy's Detailed, Authoritative Account Shows That It Was Only After The Movement For Independence Of The Republics Had Gained Undeniable Momentum On The Eve Of The Ukrainian Vote For Independence That Fall That Bush Finally Abandoned Gorbachev To His Fate.^ Drawing On Recently Declassified Documents And Original Interviews With Key Participants, Plokhy Presents A Bold New Interpretation Of The Soviet Union's Final Months And Argues That The Key To The Soviet Collapse Was The Inability Of The Two Largest Soviet Republics, Russia And Ukraine, To Agree On The Continuing Existence Of A Unified State. By Attributing The Soviet Collapse To The Impact Of American Actions, Us Policy Makers Overrated Their Own Capacities In Toppling And Rebuilding Foreign Regimes. Not Only Was The Key American Role In The Demise Of The Soviet Union A Myth, But This Misplaced Belief Has Guided - And Haunted - American Foreign Policy Ever Since. The Last Summit. Meeting In Moscow ; The Party Crasher ; Chicken Kiev -- The Tanks Of August. The Prisoner Of The Crimea ; The Russian Rebel ; Freedom's Victory -- A Countercoup. The Resurgence Of Russia ; Independent Ukraine ; Saving The Empire -- Soviet Disunion. Washington's Dilemma ; The Russian Ark ; The Survivor -- Vox Populi. Anticipation ; The Ukrainian Referendum ; The Slavic Trinity -- Farewell To The Empire. Out Of The Woods ; The Birth Of Eurasia ; Christmas In Moscow. Serhii Plokhy. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 413-460) And Index. "On Christmas Day, 1991, President George H. W. Bush addressed the nation to declare an American victory in the Cold War: earlier that day Mikhail Gorbachev had resigned as the first and last Soviet president. The enshrining of that narrative, one in which the end of the Cold War was linked to the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the triumph of democratic values over communism, took center stage in American public discourse immediately after Bush's speech and has persisted for decades - with disastrous consequences for American standing in the world. As prize-winning historian Serhii Plokhy reveals in The Last Empire, the collapse of the Soviet Union was anything but the handiwork of the United States. On the contrary, American leaders dreaded the possibility that the Soviet Union - weakened by infighting and economic turmoil - might suddenly crumble, throwing all of Eurasia into chaos. Bush was firmly committed to supporting his ally and personal friend Gorbachev, and remained wary of nationalist or radical leaders such as recently elected Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Fearing what might happen to the large Soviet nuclear arsenal in the event of the union's collapse, Bush stood by Gorbachev as he resisted the growing independence movements in Ukraine, Moldova, and the Caucasus. Plokhy's detailed, authoritative account shows that it was only after the movement for independence of the republics had gained undeniable momentum on the eve of the Ukrainian vote for independence that fall that Bush finally abandoned Gorbachev to his fate. Drawing on recently declassified documents and original interviews with key participants, Plokhy presents a bold new interpretation of the Soviet Union's final months and argues that the key to the Soviet collapse was the inability of the two largest Soviet republics, Russia and Ukraine, to agree on the continuing existence of a unified state. By attributing the Soviet collapse to the impact of American actions, US policy makers overrated their own capacities in toppling and rebuilding foreign regimes. Not only was the key American role in the demise of the Soviet Union a myth, but this misplaced belief has guided - and haunted - American foreign policy ever since."--Book jacket "A stirring account of an extraordinary moment." --Wall Street Journal. On Christmas Day, 1991, President George H. W. Bush addressed the nation to celebrate what he described as a historic American victory: Mikhail Gorbachev's resignation as Soviet prime minister and the subsequent fall of the Soviet Union.The enshrining of that narrative, one in which the end of the Cold War was linked to the triumph of democratic values over communism, took center stage in American public discourse and has persisted for decades--with disastrous consequences for American standing in the world.As prize-winning historian Serhii Plokhy reveals in The Last Empire, the collapse of the Soviet Union was anything, but the handiwork of the United States. Bush, in fact, was firmly committed to supporting Gorbachev as he attempted to hold together the USSR in the face of growing independence movements in its republics.Drawing on recently declassified documents and original interviews with key participants, Plokhy presents a bold new interpretation of the Soviet Union's final months, providing invaluable insight into the origins of the current Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the outset of the most dangerous crisis in East-West relations since the end of the Cold War. Table of Contents Maps Introduction I. THE LAST SUMMIT 1. Meeting in Moscow 2. The Party Crasher 3. Chicken Kiev II. THE TANKS OF AUGUST 4. The Prisoner of the Crimea 5. The Russian Rebel 6. Freedom's Victory III. A COUNTERCOUP 7. The Resurgence of Russia 8. Independent Ukraine 9. Saving the Empire IV. SOVIET DISUNION 10. Washington's Dilemma 11. The Russian Ark 12. The Survivor V. VOX POPULI 13. Anticipation 14. The Ukranian Referendum 15. The Slavic Trinity VI. FAREWELL TO THE EMPIRE 16. Out of the Woods 17. The Birth of Eurasia 18. Christmas in Moscow Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes Index Describes the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, dispelling the myth that the event was spurred on in part by the close relationship between George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev "A prize-winning historian presents a vivid revisionist account of the Soviet Union's collapse over the final five months of 1991"--Provided by publisher