Memoirs

By Mikhail Gorbachev
Doubleday, $35

ISBN 0385480199

Review by Roger Bishop

Mikhail Gorbachev is one of the most important statesmen of the twentieth century. The radical reforms he initiated, for almost seven years beginning in 1985, for liberty, democracy, and civil rights in the USSR, led to freedom also for the peoples of Eastern Europe and the ending of the Cold War. As a major player on the world stage he refocused his country's foreign policy and, among other areas, was a prime mover in efforts to stop the nuclear arms race. That he accomplished as much as he did in the face of persistent opposition from both opponents of sweeping change as well as proponents who felt he wasn't moving fast enough is astonishing.

Now, in his Memoirs, he tells his remarkable story. Although we learn a lot about him personally, the author emphasizes that his book is not "so much about myself but rather about the times and circumstances that shaped our generation, about the men and women who helped me gain insight into the 'mysteries of life and politics' and influenced both my character and my beliefs."

Of course, any politician's memoirs are suspect -- where else can one portray oneself in better light? It is noteworthy, in this case, that on numerous occasions Gorbachev admits that his judgment about policies, strategy, or people was mistaken. One does wonder about his objectivity on the subject of Boris Yeltsin, who is consistently presented in an unfavorable way.

Although now regarded as a virtual pariah in his own country, Gorbachev set in motion reforms that will affect many lives for years. His story of courage and political skill is extremely important for an understanding of the present state of U.S.-Russian relations. I recommend it enthusiastically. Also, for a view of Gorbachev from others I would suggest reading former U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Jack Matlock's Autopsy on an Empire (Random House) and Oxford University scholar Archie Brown's The Gorbachev Factor (Oxford University Press).

Roger Bishop is Contributing Editor to this publication.

©1996, ProMotion, inc.

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