Russia and the Idea of the West

Robert English, assistant professor of international relations at the University of Southern California, is currently a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, New Jersey. The work upon which Russia and the Idea of the West is based won the Harold D. Lasswell prize of the American Political Science Association.

• Preface: An Intellectual History Introduction: Intellectuals, Ideas, and Identity in the Sources of International Change 1. The Origins and Nature of Old Thinking 2. Leaders, Society, and Intellectuals During the Thaw 3. Intellectuals and the World: From the Secret Speech to the Prague Spring 4. The Dynamics of New Thinking in the Era of Stagnation 5. Advance and Retreat: New Thinking in the Time of Crisis and Transition 6. The New Thinking Comes to Power Conclusion: Reflections on the Origins and Fate of New Thinking Notes Bibliography Index

A treasure trove of Russian sources... English does not just read, he listens... As a work of history, this volume represents a thoughtful and highly readable reconstruction of the domestic ideational sources behind one of the most momentous transformations of the late twentieth century. Slavic Review [An] impressively researched new book. The Nation English takes a complex issue and makes it accessible to nonspecialists without sacrificing theoretical and empirical rigor. His rich and detailed account of Soviet intellectual development is fascinating and enjoyable to read, while his analysis makes a valuable contribution to debates over the origins of the Gorbachev Revolution. -- Elaine McClarnand MacKinnon America Robert English's path-breaking work... Ranks among the classics in both International Relations and Russian area studies. It thus behooves students of contemporary international relations to read or reread English's book, given its insightful exploration of the causes of the Cold War's burial - not to mention its important implications for the Post-post-Cold War era upon us now. -- Julie Newton The Russian Review