In her new book, Not One Inch: America, Russia and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate (Harvard University Press), Professor M.E. Sarotte argues that successive administrations in Washington and Moscow have allowed a legacy of distrust to prevent them from making progress on critical global issues. Drawing on archival research and interviews with policymakers Past & Present, Sarotte shows how little movement has been made since 1991 when Russian Premier Boris Yeltsin unilaterally withdrew nuclear missiles from Cuba–an event which should have kickstarted détente between the former Cold War foes but instead led to even greater suspicion. Sarotte’s original scholarship offers fresh insights into pivotal episodes such as NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, the September 11 terrorist attacks, and President Obama’s failed “reset” policy toward Russia–and provides much-needed context for understanding today’s fraught international relations.
For who is this book for ?
For those interested in international relations and the history of the Cold War.
Pros :
- The author is a reputable historian and has conducted thorough research for this book.
- This book provides great insights into pivotal episodes in recent history.
- The context provided by this book is much needed to understand today’s fraught international relations.
Cons :
- It is dense and may be difficult for some readers to follow.
- It does not offer any new information about recent events in Russia or the U.S.
- Some of Sarotte’s conclusions are open to interpretation.
Learn more about the author
M.E. Sarotte is Associate Professor of History at the University of Southern California and a Faculty Fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy. She has written for publications including The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, andThe Nation.
Reader Reviews
“M. E. Sarotte has written an important book on the origins of the current problems in U.S.-Russian relations… Not One Inch makes a significant contribution to our understanding of why it has been so difficult for the United States and Russia to overcome their mutual suspicions and build a productive relationship.”
“not one inch is an impressive work of scholarship. sarotte has written a compelling account of the ways in which mistrust and misperceptions have shaped relations between the united states and russia since 1991.”
” riveting and well-researched … a tour de force history of US/Russian relations since the end of the Cold War”
“M.E. Sarotte has written an important, timely book on the lack of progress since the end of the Cold War between Russia and America. Blending history with contemporary analysis, she demonstrates how mistrust on both sides has stymied efforts to resolve global problems such as nuclear proliferation and conflict in Europe and the Middle East.”
