The Mystery of Gorbachev

Author: (Russia)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: "There is no history, only biography." In December 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan quoted this line by Ralph Waldo Emerson during a meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev at the White House. What exactly did this American philosopher mean? Was he suggesting that history should be studied based on the names and achievements of great figures? Or was he implying that, beyond the actions of any individual, history has no other means of self-expression? People will remember him, mention him, some praise him, some curse him—not just for what he has done, for what he dared to do, but also for what he failed to decide to do, for what he restrained himself from doing. The late 20th century was the era of Gorbachev because it was he who single-handedly ended the century-long conflict, turning the page of history to a new chapter, making it possible to continue writing history on a blank slate.