Zbig: The Man Who Cracked the Kremlin

"Kissinger opted for a strategy of accommodation with Moscow, while Brzezinski, claiming that the very nature of Soviet ideology and policies prevents stability, sought strategies for undermining the Soviet system. . . . In retrospect, Brzezinski was proven right and Kissinger was wrong." -Shlomo Avineri in the preface Zbigniew Brzezinski, widely regarded as a key actor in the last half-century of American foreign policy, remains a high-profile commentator on current events and an influential critic of some policies of subsequent administrations. His intellect and eloquent wit have made him an irreplaceable and controversial part of the American scene. He continues to fascinate historians, journalists, and conspiracy theorists. This is not a conventional doorstop biography. Instead, Zbig focuses on Brzezinski's critical and underappreciated contribution to the collapse of the Soviet Union-his lifelong mission. Utterly free of illusions about the nature of Communist power, Brzezinski advocated "peaceful engagement" as the best tactic for exploiting systemic Soviet vulnerabilities. His stand on human rights and his tutelage of and influence on President Jimmy Carter had a profound effect on the course of the Cold War. Zbig also compares Brzezinski with his Harvard rival, Henry Kissinger-a strong proponent of realpolitik-and dispels the myths that claim Nixon and Kissinger opened to China. Zbig addresses previously unexplored issues behind Brzezinski's high-profile but controversial image, including relations with some pro-Israel groups. Brilliant as Kissinger is, he did little to change American perceptions of the world in a lasting way. Brzezinski did.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Open Road Distribution
Published: 12/24/2013
ISBN: 9781480461307
Pages: 252
Weight: 0.64lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.25w x 0.58d