Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate

Not One Inch examines the critical period between the fall of the Berlin Wall and NATO's expansion eastward in the 1990s. The book draws on declassified documents and interviews to trace the diplomatic negotiations between the United States, Russia, and European powers during this pivotal time. The narrative focuses on the interactions between key figures including George H.W. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Clinton, and Boris Yeltsin as they grappled with reshaping Europe after the Cold War. M.E. Sarotte reconstructs the high-stakes discussions around German reunification, the future of NATO, and the integration of former Soviet states into Western institutions. The book pays special attention to the phrase "not one inch eastward" - a disputed 1990 assurance about NATO expansion that would have lasting ramifications. The complex dynamics between American triumphalism and Russian security concerns emerge through detailed accounts of pivotal meetings and decisions. This work offers insights into how the decisions and missed opportunities of the post-Cold War period continue to influence current U.S.-Russia relations and European security architecture. The thorough analysis of this crucial historical moment provides context for understanding contemporary geopolitical tensions.

Readers value the detailed archival research and primary sources that reveal the complex NATO expansion negotiations of the 1990s. Many note the book helps explain current US-Russia tensions through its examination of diplomatic decisions made after the Cold War. Likes: - Clear chronological organization - Balanced presentation of multiple perspectives - Extensive use of declassified documents - Accessible writing style for non-experts Dislikes: - Some readers found the level of detail overwhelming - A few noted repetitive passages - Several wanted more analysis of events after 1999 - Some disagreed with the author's conclusions about NATO's role Ratings: Goodreads: 4.37/5 (178 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (245 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Meticulously researched work that shows how small decisions and personalities shaped major geopolitical outcomes" - Goodreads reviewer Multiple readers mentioned the book's relevance to understanding the 2022 Ukraine conflict.

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🌟 Author M. E. Sarotte is the Kravis Professor of Historical Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations 🌟 The book's title comes from U.S. Secretary of State James Baker's 1990 assurance to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that NATO would not expand "one inch eastward" after German reunification 🌟 The book won the 2022 Pushkin House Book Prize, which recognizes the best non-fiction writing in English about the Russian-speaking world 🌟 The research draws from previously classified documents in multiple languages, including materials from NATO archives and former Soviet records that had never been published in English 🌟 The book examines a crucial five-year period (1989-1994) that shaped modern Europe, revealing how decisions made during this time contributed to current tensions between Russia and NATO