The Dissolution of the USSR as Seen from World Capitals (Vol. 3)

This collection of documents is the continuation of the tradition established in 2019 with the publication of the volume edited by Marc Dierikx and Sacha Zala, When the Wall Came Down. The Perception of German Reunification in International Diplomatic Documents 1989-1990, which was followed in 2022 by the volume edited by Piotr Długołęcki, The Polish Crisis 1980-1982 from the Western perspective. The organizers of the XVII International Conference of Editors of Diplomatic Documents in Rome on 30-31 May 2024 proposed to publish a similar collection of documents on a related subject: the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) as seen from world capitals. The topic is of major global importance, and the following joint publication – notwithstanding its limitations – shows the value of cooperation among editors of diplomatic documents in that it provides a multilateral analysis on a great international issue.

This collection is the result of the work of historians and archivists from 15 Countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States).

Each participant researched and selected documents from the archives of their respective country, transcribed and (as needed) translated them, provided identifying elements for the headings, archival references, and list of persons, and, finally, wrote a short abstract for each document.

Open Access

The volume is available as a pdf here.