Sergey Radchenko, author of "To Run the World: The Kremlin’s Bid for Global Power," explores the motivations and absurdities of Soviet and Chinese leaders in their pursuit of global prestige. He delves into Stalin's colonial ambitions, Khrushchev's economic failures, and the complex Sino-Soviet relations shaped by Cold War dynamics. The discussion offers intriguing anecdotes, including humorous interactions between leaders and insights into the historical significance of legitimacy in international politics. Radchenko’s perspective reshapes our understanding of past and present global power struggles.
Soviet leaders prioritized global prestige and legitimacy in their pursuit of power, viewing international recognition as essential for superpower validation.
The Percentages Agreement between Churchill and Stalin exemplified pragmatic power dynamics, illustrating the complexities of influence in early Cold War negotiations.
Historians debate Stalin's willingness to compromise versus his expansionist tendencies, reflecting the uncertainty that fueled U.S. policy of containment.
The launch of Sputnik significantly elevated Soviet prestige, boosting Khrushchev's ambitions and contributing to heightened Cold War tensions through military overreach.
Deep dives
Striving for Prestige
Soviet leaders emphasized the importance of global prestige and legitimacy in their pursuit of power. They believed that recognition from other nations was essential to validate their claim to superpower status. This internal need for external validation stemmed from a lack of legitimacy within their own borders. For instance, the Soviets sought acknowledgment from the United States, viewing their recognition as crucial for solidifying their image as a superpower, thereby allowing them to assert their strength domestically.
Legitimacy Versus Power
The relationship between power and legitimacy in Soviet foreign policy was complex and often prioritized legitimacy over raw power. Leaders like Stalin sometimes backed off from territorial control to maintain the legitimate image of their authority. His decisions, such as withdrawing support from separatists to gain recognition for Soviet claims in China, illustrated a nuanced approach to international relations. This interplay emphasized the significance of external approval in the Soviet quest for security and dominance.
The Percentages Agreement
The Percentages Agreement between Churchill and Stalin revealed the behind-the-scenes negotiations that influenced post-war Europe. During a meeting in Moscow, they divided areas of influence in Eastern Europe on a simple piece of paper, highlighting the pragmatic decisions made without public accountability. Stalin’s acceptance of this agreement demonstrated his desire for recognition of a sphere of influence rather than outright territorial control. Ultimately, the agreement showcased the complexities of power dynamics during the early Cold War.
Contingency of Cold War Alliances
Historians debate whether Stalin was open to compromise during the early Cold War or if his expansionist tendencies necessitated a firm response from the West. The U.S. policy of containment, informed by George Kennan's Long Telegram, sought to prevent Soviet expansion based on the uncertainty surrounding Stalin's intentions. This policy was a bid to establish a balance of power but also contributed to the escalating tensions of the Cold War. The lack of trust on both sides fueled the conflict as leaders navigated an unpredictable geopolitical landscape.
Nuclear Deterrence and Psychological Warfare
The concept of nuclear deterrence significantly impacted the strategies employed by both the Soviet Union and the United States. Khrushchev believed that possessing nuclear weapons would ensure the Soviet Union’s security and allow it to assert its influence globally. This belief was evidenced during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where Khrushchev's calculations were influenced by his perception of American vulnerabilities. Consequently, the presence of nuclear weapons transformed international relations into a precarious game of psychological warfare, with leaders weighing the immense responsibilities of their decisions.
Ideological Tensions and Power Struggles
The Sino-Soviet split was driven by a complex interplay of ideological tensions and power dynamics, rather than purely ideological disagreements. Mao Zedong's desire for equal status in the global communist movement clashed with Khrushchev's assertion of Soviet primacy. This struggle saw China seeking to assert itself and challenge Soviet leadership, culminating in a rivalry that extended beyond the ideological realm into matters of prestige. The split ultimately reflected the insecurities of both leaders and their competing visions for communism's future.
The Impact of Technological Advancements
The launch of Sputnik marked a significant turning point for Soviet prestige and global standing, instilling a sense of technological superiority in Khrushchev. This moment fueled his ambitions for the Soviet Union to outpace the West not just in military terms but also in scientific innovation. As Khrushchev's confidence grew, so did his willingness to confront the United States in various international crises, believing that the Soviet power was now invincible. However, this overreach contributed to escalating tensions and heightened risks during critical moments in the Cold War.
Sergey Radchenko’s book, To Run the World: The Kremlin’s Bid for Global Power, is a masterwork! In my mind, it’s in pole position for best book of 2025. Sergey takes you into the mind of Soviet and Chinese leaders as they wrestle for global power and recognition, leaving you amused, inspired, and horrified by the small-mindedness of the people who had the power to start World War III.
We get amazing vignettes like Liu Shaoqi making fun of the Americans for eating ice cream in trenches, Khrushchev pinning red stars on Eisenhower’s grandkids, and Brezhnev and Andropov offering to dig up dirt on senators to help save Nixon from Watergate.
Sergey earns your trust in this book, acknowledging what we can and can’t know. He leaves you with a new lens to understand the Cold War and the new US-China rivalry — namely, the overwhelming preoccupation with global prestige by Cold War leaders.
In this interview, we discuss…
Why legitimacy matters in international politics,
Stalin’s colonial ambitions and Truman’s strategy of containment,
Sino-Soviet relations during the Stalin era and beyond,
The history of nuclear blackmail, starting with the 1956 Suez crisis,
Why Khrushchev couldn’t save the Soviet economy.
Co-hosting today is Jon Sine of the Cogitations substack.
Outro music: Виталий Марков "Главное, ребята, сердцем не стареть" (YouTube Link)
