#FromColdWarToHotPeace #NetGalley

With the revival of the Cold War, this book arrived just in time. The book is written by Michael McFaul, prestigious Americal Professor of Political Sciences and Ambassador of the United States of America to the Russian until 2014, Profesor McFaul explains the U.S.-Russia relations since the Soviet era to the present in particular the impact of the most consequential global confrontation of our time.

This is a very interesting and erudite read that provides a front-row seat on US-Russian relations. It also tempered with insights into the Russian psyche and position, which is missing from many books on the subject. Overall, a good addition to the subject.

FROM COLD WAR TO HOT PEACE by Michael McFaul is an absorbing look at the relationship between the US and Russia, especially over the last 30 years. It is written by a Stanford University professor of political science who served at the National Security Council and then as U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2012 to 2014. McFaul says he had to "have the courage to write such a book – at the same time historical, analytical, and personal .... [with a] mix of voices." He does include much of his own story of public service while dividing this nonfiction work into three main sections: Revolution, Reset and Reaction. The first contains chapters which discuss events during the early to mid-90s like Yeltsin's reelection, economic reforms, and expansion of NATO. The second part continues chronologically and covers topics such as going to work in the Obama administration, the new START treaty, concerns about Iran, and the Arab Spring. The third section is definitely interesting and eye-opening, with sample chapters titled "Putin Needs an Enemy – America, Obama and Me" and a later one on "Annexation and War in Ukraine." McFaul, who was eventually considered a persona non grata by Russia, muses about the way in which individuals matter (citing the contributions of Gorbachev, Yeltsin, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton) as well as the choices made by Putin to perceived provocation from demonstrators in Russia (2011-12) and the Ukraine (2013-14). McFaul concludes with a twenty page epilogue on Trump and Putin plus endnotes and acknowledgements – how exciting to have been a colleague, research assistant or student at Stanford in his PoliSci 213 who was asked to comment on the draft of this timely and engaging book. FROM COLD WAR TO HOT PEACE received a starred review from Booklist.

This is a great perspective on U.S. interest/involvement in Russian democracy. Chronicles individual Americans' role in the fall of the Soviet Union/brief flirtation with Russian democracy and the authoritarian rise of Putin. Spotlights the failure of the United States in funding a peace in Russia by supporting its economic reforms after the end of the Cold War. A mistake that has had long term consequences. An evaluation of our Russian foreign policy is very important considering what has happened in the past few years and this American perspective is strongly recommended.