: He contends that Western historians often err by oversimplifying the Kremlin as either purely pragmatic or purely aggressive, failing to see the complex "aspirations, illusions, and fears" of the Soviet elite.
: The book features an in-depth look at the "Soviet home front," detailing how societal stagnation and a loss of ideals among the elite contributed to the empire's failure. Where to Find the Book A Failed Empire: The Soviet Union in the Cold W...
: Zubok argues that Soviet foreign policy was driven by a tension between "revolutionary" communist ideology and traditional Russian "imperial" interests. : He contends that Western historians often err