The Russian Nuclear Shield From Stalin To Yeltsin : The Cold War and Beyond

by Jennifer G. Mathers

Release Date: October, 2000

Edition: Hardcover

Price:

More Info

Excellent scholarship

Moving chronologically, Mathers develops a clear pattern to each chapter that allows for quick comparative conclusions about Soviet political responses to ABMs and the overall strategy of Soviet-US relations. The conclusions to her chapters provide excellent, concise summations to the material just presented. She presents clear, inductive links from Soviet/Russian ABM policy to the general domestic economic and political situations, and subsequent reactions to US policy.

She extensively uses Soviet military literature of the periods to help illustrate the political status of ABM policy of the time. She could have perhaps included more direct quotes from primary sources, but it is understandable that the brevity of the book would suffer.

One can draw some interesting parallels between Soviet ABM debates over the economic and strategic consequences with the current US experience. An excellent resource for anyone interested in the NMD debate. Mathers provides us with excellent, clear, and concise scholarship on the topic. Her ability to draw linkages between Soviet politics and ABM policy without bogging down in various ruminations is especially effective.