The Last Empire

In The Last Empire, Serhii Plokhy explores the true dynamics behind the collapse of the Soviet Union, challenging the widely held narrative of American victory in the Cold War. The book reveals that U.S. leaders, particularly President George H. W. Bush, were initially wary of the union's disintegration, supporting Gorbachev and fearing chaos in Eurasia and the fate of nuclear arsenals. Only when independence movements gained unstoppable momentum did the U.S. shift its stance, offering a nuanced look at a pivotal moment in history.