Zbig

Zbigniew Brzezinski was a political strategist who rose to prominence as an intellectual architect in US foreign policy during the Cold War. While he may not be as celebrated as late-twentieth-century icons such as Henry Kissinger, Brzezinskis contributions were no less monumental. As National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter and a trusted advisor to US presidents from John F. Kennedy onwards, Brzezinskis expertise on Soviet affairs helped shape global strategy at critical moments - most significantly as a key figure in the downfall of the Soviet Union. A Polish migr who witnessed the devastation of his homeland during both Nazi and Soviet occupations, Brzezinski became one of the Wests foremost scholars of totalitarianism. His nuanced understanding of the importance of speaking the enemys language, coupled with his close friendship with Pope John Paul II a fellow Pole was instrumental in preventing a Soviet invasion of Poland. While Nixon and Kissinger, his lifelong rival, famously opened China to the West in the early 1970s, it was Brzezinski and Carter who strengthened US-China relations, further shifting the global balance of power away from Moscow. Beyond the Cold War, Brzezinski continued to influence foreign policy, notably in shaping the nations response to the 9/11 attacks. Yet his legacy remains underreported, leaving gaps in our understanding of Cold War history and its aftermath. Edward Luce restores Brzezinskis rightful place in history. Through a sweeping narrative that spans much of the 20th century, Zbig offers a gripping account of Brzezinskis life and, in doing so, narrates a compelling re-examination of the end of the Cold War.