This book discerns Soviet leaders' views of the United States and sees them in relation to foreign policy statements and actions. Hermann first examines the subtle problem of analyzing perceptions and interpreting motives from the words and deeds of national leaders. He then turns to cases, measuring the dominant U.S. hypotheses about the USSR against Soviet behavior in Central Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, as well as Soviet participation in the arms race. Finally, he weighs his conclusions against a thematic study of speeches and publications by members of the Politburo.

Herrmann's work . . . consciously develops an argument about Soviet perceptions of the United States in an attempt to arrive at an image about the motivations of Soviet foreign policy. . . . In analyzing the assumptions of three prevailing schools of thought, Herrmann contributes importantly to the literature on Soviet foreign policy.

* Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science *

"Professor Herrmann has written a careful and valuable book. In a relatively short space he has assembled a quantity of data which will put all students of East-West relations immeasurably in his debt."-

* International Affairs *

"This is not simply another study of how the Soviets 'see' the US and the world situation. Herrmann makes a careful, serious effort to extend previous research linking political psychology to the analysis of Soviet foreign policy. Most significantly, he recognizes the need to tackle questions of motives, and he develops a systematic, empirical approach to discover and understand their operation and impact."—

* Choice *

Richard K. Herrmann is professor of political science and director of the Mershon Center at Ohio State University.