The Decision to Intervene

The Decision to Intervene examines the Allied intervention in Russia during 1918-1920, focusing on American involvement following the Bolshevik Revolution. As the second volume of Kennan's Russia series, it documents the complex military and diplomatic moves that brought Western powers into the Russian Civil War. The book draws on diplomatic archives, military records, and personal accounts to reconstruct the decision-making process behind the intervention. Through detailed analysis of communications between Washington, London, Paris and other capitals, Kennan traces how Allied policy toward revolutionary Russia evolved during this period. Based on extensive research in multiple languages, the work presents the perspectives of all major players - from President Wilson and his advisers to military commanders in Siberia and Allied diplomats in Russia. Kennan examines the stated reasons for intervention against the actual motivations and outcomes. This historical analysis raises enduring questions about the limits of foreign intervention and the challenges of coordinating Allied military action. The book stands as a study of how nations make momentous decisions with incomplete information and competing strategic goals.

Readers value Kennan's direct access to source materials and his first-hand diplomatic experience with Soviet affairs during this period. Multiple reviewers note his detailed analysis of primary documents and ability to connect various political threads. Readers appreciate: - Clear chronological organization - Debunking of common myths about U.S.-Soviet relations - Insights into Allied intervention decision-making - Documentation of early Bolshevik governance Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Heavy focus on military/diplomatic minutiae - Limited coverage of social/economic factors - Some assertions made without supporting evidence Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (14 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating "Deep in the weeds of diplomatic correspondence but worth it for serious scholars," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another comments that it "requires significant background knowledge of the period to fully appreciate." Most readers position this as Volume 2 of Kennan's Soviet-American relations analysis rather than a standalone work.

Russia Leaves the War by George Kennan A detailed examination of Soviet-American relations during World War I and its aftermath through diplomatic archives and firsthand accounts.

The Origins of the Cold War by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. The diplomatic and political developments that led to the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union from 1917 to 1947.

The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made by Walter Isaacson, Evan Thomas The story of six American policymakers who shaped U.S. Cold War strategy and foreign relations in the aftermath of World War II.

Present at the Creation: My Years in the State Department by Dean Acheson A first-hand account of American foreign policy formation during the critical period of 1945-1952 from Truman's Secretary of State.

We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History by John Lewis Gaddis A comprehensive analysis of Cold War history using Soviet archives that became available after 1989.

🔷 George F. Kennan, the author, was the chief architect of America's Cold War "containment" policy and served as U.S. Ambassador to both the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. 🔷 The Decision to Intervene is part of a larger two-volume work called "Soviet-American Relations, 1917-1920," which won the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, and Bancroft Prize. 🔷 The book details the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War (1918-1920), when American troops were deployed to Russian soil - a largely forgotten chapter of U.S.-Russian relations. 🔷 While writing this historical analysis, Kennan had unprecedented access to previously sealed American diplomatic archives and military records from the post-WWI period. 🔷 The research in this book helped shape Kennan's famous "Long Telegram" and "X Article," which became foundational documents in forming America's Cold War strategy.