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 Table of Contents......Page 8 Maps......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 I. THE LAST SUMMIT......Page 24 1. Meeting in Moscow......Page 26 2. The Party Crasher......Page 47 3. Chicken Kiev......Page 70 II. THE TANKS OF AUGUST......Page 94 4. The Prisoner of the Crimea......Page 96 5. The Russian Rebel......Page 116 6. Freedom's Victory......Page 133 III. A COUNTERCOUP......Page 154 7. The Resurgence of Russia......Page 156 8. Independent Ukraine......Page 175 9. Saving the Empire......Page 194 IV. SOVIET DISUNION......Page 212 10. Washington's Dilemma......Page 214 11. The Russian Ark......Page 235 12. The Survivor......Page 254 V. VOX POPULI......Page 284 13. Anticipation......Page 286 14. The Ukranian Referendum......Page 306 15. The Slavic Trinity......Page 326 VI. FAREWELL TO THE EMPIRE......Page 348 16. Out of the Woods......Page 350 17. The Birth of Eurasia......Page 375 18. Christmas in Moscow......Page 397 Epilogue......Page 419 Acknowledgments......Page 440 Notes......Page 444 Index......Page 492 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 "A stirring account of an extraordinary moment."-Wall Street Journal