As the principal English interpreter for Mikhail Gorbachev and his foreign minister; Eduard Shevardnadze; in the critical period of 1985–1991; Pavel Palazchenko participated in all U.S.-Soviet summit talks leading to the end of the Cold War. This personal and political memoir sheds new light on Soviet/American relations and personalities during that time. Palazchenko focuses on what he saw with his own eyes during important negotiating sessions with world leaders such as Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush; Secretaries of State George Shultz and James Baker; and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He shares his impressions and opinions about these leaders as well as their Soviet counterparts and gives a firsthand account of the phase of preparation leading up to important international events; including the process of hammering out positions on sensitive arms control issues. Palazchenko describes the events themselves; such as the summits in Reykjavik; Malta; and Moscow; adding many fascinating details to previous accounts. Palazchenko contends that the peaceful end of the Cold War was possible not because of some behind-the-scenes dealings; but because of the trust that gradually developed between world leaders. He shows us how this developing trust led to the remarkably peaceful transition from the dangerous pre-1985 confrontation to the new relationships between major powers. This book sheds light on Soviet thinking about Soviet-U.S. relations; the Third World; arms control; German reunification; and the Gulf War. It also provides an insider's view of domestic politics and policy during Gorbachev's last year in power and Soviet developments leading up to the collapse of the USSR.
#216166 in Books 2006-11-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .60 x 6.00l; .88 #File Name: 0262693429292 pages
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Three StarsBy JHEducational but not particularly interesting0 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Great ServiceBy mtwilkenVery quick delivery and even though the book I bought was used; it was in great condition. Thanks for the great service.1 of 22 people found the following review helpful. Biased reporting; unfounded conclusionsBy Peter G. PollakSze's ph.d. thesis suffers from her own overly grand sense of the import of her subject; her confused theoretical framework and the lack of the kind of editorial oversight that her thesis advisers owed her.
