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"Leonid Brezhnev was leader of the Soviet Union for eighteen years, a term of leadership second only in length to that of Stalin. He presided over the Brezhnev Doctrine, which accelerated the Cold War, and led the Soviet Union through catastrophic foreign policy decisions such as the invasion of Afghanistan. To many in the West, he is responsible for the stagnation (and to some even collapse) of the Soviet Union. But much of this history has been based on the only two English-language biographies (both published before Brezhnev's death and without access to archival sources) and Brezhnev's own astonishingly untrue memoirs--written for propaganda purposes. Newly translated from German, Schattenberg's magisterial book systematically dismantles the stereotypical and one-dimensional view of Brezhnev as the stagnating Stalinist by drawing on a wealth of archival research and documents not previously studied in English. The Brezhnev that emerges is a complex one, from his early apolitical years, when he dreamed of becoming an actor, through his swift and surprising rise through the Party ranks. From his hitherto misunderstood role in Khrushchev's ousting and appointment as his successor, to his somewhat pro-Western foreign policy aims, deft consolidation and management of power, and ultimate descent into addiction and untimely death. For Schattenberg, this is the story of a flawed and ineffectual idealist--for the West, this biography makes a convincing case that Brezhnev should be reappraised as one of the most interesting and important political figures of the twentieth century"--

Heads of state --- Brezhnev, Leonid Ilʹich, --- Soviet Union --- Politics and government --- Brezhnev, Leonid

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Qui était vraiment Leonid Brejnev, l'homme aux sourcils broussailleux qui a succédé au bouillonnant Nikita Khrouchtchev pour diriger l'Union soviétique pendant dix-huit ans, de 1964 à 1982 ? Un vieillard sénile, bardé de médailles, collectionnant les voitures étrangères et les fusils de chasse ? Un réactionnaire qui a persécuté les dissidents ? Un gendarme qui a écrasé le Printemps de Prague et occupé l'Afghanistan ? Un cynique qui a laissé prospérer la corruption et les pénuries, plongé son pays dans la " stagnation " qui a mené au drame de Tchernobyl et à la fin de l'URSS ? Ou un dirigeant proche de ses racines ukrainiennes, un héros militaire qui a ressoudé les Russes autour d'un idéal de victoire, un diplomate rusé et aimable qui a éloigné le spectre de la Troisième Guerre mondiale ? En dépit de sa longévité, Brejnev, objet de risée à la fin de sa vie, est resté pendant longtemps enfermé dans une gangue de mépris. Armé de nombreux documents inédits dénichés dans les archives russes, passant au crible les " carnets " brejnéviens, Andreï Kozovoï révise les idées reçues et dresse le portrait d'un dictateur pas comme les autres, d'un antihéros qui a semé les graines de la Russie poutinienne.

Politique et gouvernement --- Brejnev, Léonide Ilitch --- Heads of state --- Brezhnev, Leonid Il'ich, - 1906-1982 --- Soviet Union