Memoirs of the USSR ambassador to the USA A.F. Dobrynin as a historical source: analysis and evaluation

This article examines the memoirs of the outstanding Soviet and Russian diplomat A.F. Dobrynin, first published in 1997. It is noted that the structure of the memoirs is well thought out, logical, and meets the requirements. It provides an overview of the historiography of the Soviet and Russian diplomatic service, which includes a large number of memoirs. Dobrynin's life and career in the diplomatic service are covered in detail. It is argued that Dobrynin's role as Soviet ambassador to the United States during the inception and development of détente and strategic arms limitation is difficult to overestimate. It is noted that in his memoirs, Dobrynin demonstrated profound analytical skills in identifying and articulating the causes of the eventual dismantling of détente. It is emphasized that the characterizations given to a number of Soviet political leaders are brief and tolerant, with the exception of M.S. Gorbachev. Dobrynin assesses the level of foreign policy preparation of most members of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee as "poor." The author concludes that the memoirs of the former Soviet ambassador to the United States represent a highly interesting, significant historical source deserving of thorough study.