Two Suns in the Heavens: The Sino-Soviet Struggle for Supremacy, 1962-1967 (Cold War International History Project) [Hardcover]

Sergey Radchenko (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0804758794 | ISBN-13: 978-0804758796 | Publication Date: February 23, 2009

Using newly available archival sources, Two Suns in the Heavens examines the dramatic deterioration of relations between the USSR and China in the 1960s, whereby once powerful allies became estranged, competitive, and increasingly hostile neighbors.

Sergey Radchenko's authoritative account of these years shows how the intrinsic inequality of the Sino-Soviet alliance—seen as entirely natural by the Russians but bitterly resented by the Chinese—resulted in its ultimate collapse. Through a careful and comprehensive investigation of policymaking in both Moscow and Beijing, Radchenko creates a new framework for understanding the role of power struggle, ideology, personalities, and culture in Sino-Soviet relations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Reading this interesting and well-balanced history of five crucial years in Sino-Soviet diplomacy is like watching a slow-motion train wreck, as the reader becomes an eyewitness to relations declining from bad to worse between the two socialists superpowers."—Bruce A. Elleman, The Russian Review.

"I this richly, eloquently written book, Radchenko provides an in-depth, incisive assessment of the turbulent relationship between Beijing and Moscow against a broad international backdrop from 1962 to 1976...His study in large measures transcends conventional interpretations and enriches the current scholarship on Sino-Soviet relations."—G. Zheng, Choice.

"[Two Suns in the Heavens] succeeds in using a broad range of new materials to produce an unusually nuanced and insightful analysis of Soviet management of the dispute, as well as a provocative new of Mao's approach to it."—Steven M. Goldstein, China Prespectives.

"This book is an excellent addition to the burgeoning literature on the international relations of the communist bloc during the Cold War."—Nicholas Khoo, International Affairs

"... the book is a real contribution to our understanding of the period and its main actors."—The China Journal

About the Author

Sergey Radchenko is a Fellow in International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Stanford University Press (February 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804758794
• ISBN-13: 978-0804758796
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,866,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Perceptive analysis, January 3, 2012

By 

Boris Lvin (Rockville, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Two Suns in the Heavens: The Sino-Soviet Struggle for Supremacy, 1962-1967 (Cold War International History Project) (Hardcover)

What I liked most in this excellent book is Sergey Radchenko's skill in weaving together internal politics of the USSR and China with their global rivalry. He is particularly innovative in showing to what extent relations with China affected domestic policy of Nikita Khrushchev, and to what extent Mao was able to manipulate it. Both sides seem to have been driven not only by their genuine rivalry, but also by gross misconceptions they had about each other's motives and goals (it is particularly true about the Soviet side.)