Covering the volatile period from 1945 to 1962; Zubok and Pleshakov explore the personalities and motivations of the key people who directed Soviet political life and shaped Soviet foreign policy. They begin with the fearsome figure of Joseph Stalin; who was driven by the dual dream of a Communist revolution and a global empire. They reveal the scope and limits of Stalin's ambitions by taking us into the world of his closest subordinates; the ruthless and unimaginative foreign minister Molotov and the Party's chief propagandist; Zhdanov; a man brimming with hubris and missionary zeal. The authors expose the machinations of the much-feared secret police chief Beria and the party cadre manager Malenkov; who tried but failed to set Soviet policies on a different course after Stalin's death. Finally; they document the motives and actions of the self-made and self-confident Nikita Khrushchev; full of Russian pride and party dogma; who overturned many of Stalin's policies with bold strategizing on a global scale. The authors show how; despite such attempts to change Soviet diplomacy; Stalin's legacy continued to divide Germany and Europe; and led the Soviets to the split with Maoist China and to the Cuban missile crisis.Zubok and Pleshakov's groundbreaking work reveals how Soviet statesmen conceived and conducted their rivalry with the West within the context of their own domestic and global concerns and aspirations. The authors persuasively demonstrate that the Soviet leaders did not seek a conflict with the United States; yet failed to prevent it or bring it to conclusion. They also document why and how Kremlin policy-makers; cautious and scheming as they were; triggered the gravest crises of the Cold War in Korea; Berlin; and Cuba. Taking us into the corridors of the Kremlin and the minds of its leaders; Zubok and Pleshakov present intimate portraits of the men who made the West fear; to reveal why and how they acted as they did.
#533809 in Books 2014-04-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.87 x 1.06 x 5.29l; .0 #File Name: 0674284240400 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. How Schools Can Address Some of the Problems of Our DemocracyBy Daniel MillensonMeira Levinson's "No Citizen Left Behind" - perhaps uniquely - combines the tight reasoning of political philosopher with the pathos and deep experience of a public school classroom teacher working in some of Atlanta and Boston's poorest schools. The result is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book that challenges popular notions of how schools do and ought to teach students about democracy and civic action.The disjuncture between the semi-triumphalist narrative of U.S. history and civics taught in today's schools ("Yes; we made mistakes like slavery; but now things are better.); and the reality of civic institutions that low-income and minority young people often cannot trust (e.g.; police forces; their own failing schools) often prompts those same students to dismiss civic engagement entirely. As a result; they fail to learn how to use the very tools that would improve both those institutions and their own lives. Levinson argues that that disjuncture; combined with a school system more segregated now than at any time since Brown v. Board; mean that schools must approach teaching citizenship (a term Levinson uses beyond the narrow legal sense) in a new way; they must explicitly teach students how to use collective action to rectify racial and class injustices.And precisely because students' attitudes towards democracy are often shaped by their experience of school climate; Levinson argues that schools must fundamentally reform their own quite undemocratic cultures. Practices now increasingly popular (fueled by a testing culture run amok); such as students who must walk tin-solider-like; silently in single-file lines; between classes can be inimical to cultivating critical; active citizens. In effect; Levinson points out; such schools deny their students the opportunity to learn by denying them the opportunity to make decisions and; inevitably; some mistakes.Unfortunately; whereas Levinson's book is always acute in its observations of inequity and quite often a stirring call to action; it can at times be frustratingly elusive as a program of action for practitioners. That said; "No Citizen Left Behind" is an important book on an under-appreciated problem; a corrective for many of the myths on modern education; and a must-read for anyone concerned with the health and equity of American democracy.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Not the usual nonsense about the problems with our education systemBy CARL STEWARTI bought this book after hearing the author speak at the annual conference of Massachusetts school boards and superintendents. She was an inspiring speaker and the book amplifies her insightfulness on what is happening with education in this country. While Meira Levinson does not supply any magic bullets for solving the faults in the way we educate our children; she does have many points that every educator could benefit from. This is particularly true for those who are in "failing" schools. It may be a bitter pill to swallow but we are missing the boat if we blame our children for being difficult to educate. The system needs fixing; not the kids.0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Required readingBy Natalie SchmigleRequired reading. I only skimmed it. Wasn't my cup of tea.
