Burying Lenin: The Revolution In Soviet Ideology And Foreign Policy

In this review of Burying Lenin: The Revolution In Soviet Ideology And Foreign Policy, the reviewer finds a thoughtful, scholarly account best suited to readers interested in Cold War ideas and post-Soviet diplomacy. Steven Kull traces how Soviet leaders acknowledged Leninism's failures and developed what he calls new thinking, making the book valuable for historians and policy students who want a clear explanation of ideological change rather than a general narrative of events.

Key Features

• Focused thesis: The book explains how Soviet policymakers came to accept the failure of Leninism, giving readers a focused framework for understanding ideological transition.
• Analysis of new thinking: Kull assesses the development and substance of the alternative ideology labeled new thinking, clarifying its components and implications for policy.
• Post-Soviet relevance: The text examines how new thinking and other ideas influenced post-Soviet foreign policy and behavior, making it useful for contemporary analysis.
• Scholarly yet readable: The book presents academic argumentation in a way that remains accessible to informed non-specialists interested in political ideas.
• Policy-oriented perspective: Emphasis on the policy consequences of ideological change helps readers connect theory with diplomatic practice.

Who It's For

This book is for graduate students, historians, and foreign policy analysts who want a conceptual account of how Soviet ideology shifted and how that shift affected decisions after the Soviet era. It is especially helpful for readers seeking a focused study of ideas rather than a broad political history.

Readers looking for a chronological narrative of events or a popular history richly illustrated with anecdotes and personalities may want a different title; this work centers on intellectual currents and policy consequences rather than memoir-style storytelling.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clear argument about the decline of Leninism and the rise of new thinking, which clarifies a complex transition.
• Connects ideology to concrete post-Soviet foreign policy behaviors, aiding policy analysis.
• Balances scholarly rigor with accessible prose, making it usable in classroom settings.

Cons

• The narrow focus on ideological change means readers seeking wide-ranging political narrative or biography may find it limited in scope.

Specifications

Title	Burying Lenin: The Revolution In Soviet Ideology And Foreign Policy
Author	Steven Kull
Subject	Soviet ideology and foreign policy
Focus	Transition from Leninism to 'new thinking' and its policy impact
Intended audience	Historians, policy analysts, graduate students
Style	Analytic, scholarly, accessible

Our Verdict

For readers who want a concise, idea-centered account of how Soviet policymakers abandoned Leninist doctrine and adopted new thinking, Steven Kull delivers a focused and useful study. It represents good value for students and analysts who need to link ideological change to post-Soviet foreign policy rather than a sweeping political narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book explain what new thinking means?
The author defines and assesses new thinking and explains how it differed from Leninist doctrine and influenced later policy.

Is it suitable for non-specialists?
Yes. While scholarly in approach, the prose aims to be accessible to informed non-specialists and students.

Will it cover post-Soviet foreign policy?
Yes. The book specifically examines the influence of ideological change on post-Soviet foreign policy and behavior.