A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to GorbachevIn 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. |
Contents
1 The Soviet People and Stalin between War and Peace 1945 | 1 |
2 Stalins Road to the Cold War 19451948 | 29 |
3 Stalemate in Germany 19451953 | 62 |
4 Kremlin Politics and Peaceful Coexistence 19531957 | 94 |
5 The Nuclear Education of Khrushchev 19531963 | 123 |
A section of illustrations appears after page | 155 |
First Cracks 19531968 | 163 |
7 Brezhnev and the Road to Détente 19651972 | 192 |
Other editions - View all
A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev Vladislav Martinovich Zubok No preview available - 2009 |
A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold War from Stalin to Gorbachev Vladislav M. Zubok No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
Afghanistan agreement Alexandrov-Agentov allies American Andrei Andropov Archive arms atomic author’s AVPRF became began believed Beria Berlin bomb Brezhnev Central Europe Chernyaev China Chinese Cold Cold War Communist countries CPSU crisis Cuba Cuban cultural de-Stalinization Defense détente di√erent diplomacy diplomatic Dobrynin e√ect East economic European forces foreign a√airs foreign minister Fursenko Gartho Georgy Georgy Zhukov Gorbachev Gromyko ideological Iran Khru Khrushchev Kissinger Kornienko Kremlin Kremlin leaders Lavrentii Beria Malenkov Mikoyan missiles Molotov Moscow nationalist nato negotiations Nikita Khrushchev Nikolai Nixon nomenklatura NSArch nuclear o√ered o≈cials October party peace Plenum Poland Polish Politburo political president Presidium propaganda proposed Reagan regime RGANI Russian secret secretary Semenov socialist Soviet elites Soviet foreign policy Soviet leader Soviet leadership Soviet military Soviet Union Stalin Stalinist strategic Sugubo doveritelno summit tion Treaty troops U.S.-Soviet United ussr Ustinov Vladimir wanted Warsaw Pact West Berlin West Germany Western powers zhizn Zubok