In this book, Marshall D. Shulman emphasizes that an analysis of Soviet foreign policy during the closing years of Stalin's life from the perspective of the present calls into question many common assumptions about the character of that policy.

This book contributes to the public discussion of policy issues by making available to readers some of the information and insights which have resulted from the work of many scholars in Soviet affairs.

In this book, Marshall D. Shulman emphasizes that an analysis of Soviet foreign policy during the closing years of Stalin's life from the perspective of the present calls into question many common assumptions about the character of that policy.

This book contributes to the public discussion of Soviet foreign policy issues by making available some of the information and insights which have resulted from the work of many scholars in this field. It explores how diverse trends in the evolution of the policy affected the nature of the Cold War.