Failed Empire: The Soviet Union In The Cold W... - A

: He contends that Western historians often err by oversimplifying the Kremlin as either purely pragmatic or purely aggressive, failing to see the complex "aspirations, illusions, and fears" of the Soviet elite.

is a widely acclaimed book by historian Vladislav Zubok , first published in 2007. It is considered a seminal work because it provides a comprehensive history of the entire Cold War strictly from the Soviet perspective , utilizing recently declassified Politburo records, telegrams, and diaries. Key Themes and Arguments A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold W...

: Zubok argues that Soviet foreign policy was driven by a tension between "revolutionary" communist ideology and traditional Russian "imperial" interests. : He contends that Western historians often err