Return to Cold War [Paperback]

The 2014 crisis in Ukraine sent a tottering U.S.-Russian relationship over a cliff - a dangerous descent into deep mistrust, severed ties, and potential confrontation reminiscent of the Cold War period.

In this incisive new analysis, leading expert on Soviet and Russian foreign policy, Robert Legvold, explores in detail this qualitatively new phase in a relationship that has alternated between hope and disappointment for much of the past two decades. Tracing the long and tortured path leading to this critical juncture, he contends that the recent deterioration of Russia-U.S. relations deserves to be understood as a return to cold war with great and lasting consequences. In drawing out the commonalities between the original cold war and the current confrontation, Return to Cold War brings a fresh perspective to what is happening between the two countries, its broader significance beyond the immediate issues of the day, and how political leaders in both countries might adjust their approaches in order, as the author urges, to make this new cold war as short and shallow as possible.

Introduction

I Dueling Concepts

II The Cold War

III The Descent

IV Where To?

Scholars and pundits have begun to ask if a new Cold War is emerging. Robert Legvold is among the most qualified people to answer this question and he has sought, carefully and objectively, to do so in his new book.
- The Political Quarterly

The relationship between the United States and Russia is the worst it has been since the early 1980s. Legvold recognizes that there is a long road back to any sort of quality engagement between the two countries, but a great place to start turning things around is for policymakers on both sides to read this book.
-James M. Goldgeier, H-Diplo<l“)