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Sino-Soviet relations are among the most important bilateral relations in the history of the 20^th century. This book makes use of recently declassified Russian and Chinese archival documents, as well as Eastern European, American and other related fields of studies. This monograph reviews 74 years of Sino-Soviet relations subjecting a large number of significant events to in-depth analysis. The book is divided into four parts. Part 1, “Uncertain Partners (1917-1949)”, describes how ideology and national interests promoted the establishment of dual track relations between the CPSU and Soviet Union on one side and the CCP and Chinese government on the other. Part II, “Comrades and Brothers (1949-1960)”, narrates the creation of Sino-Soviet alliance and the development of bilateral relations from the honeymoon period until the beginning of the dispute. Part III, “From Split to Confrontation (1960-1978)”, examines the historical process of two countries and parties with the same ideology and similar national interests entering a period of serious confrontation. Part IV, “Heading towards Normalization (1979-1991)”, tells the story of two countries divided by the Cold War investing great effort into normalization of bilateral ties and finally reviving Sino-Soviet relations.

This book argues that the ties between China and the USSR were unlike any modern-day international relations, they were abnormal and immature. They present a classic example of the structural flaws common for the ties between the members of the socialist camp. They include conflict between ideals of internationalism and national aspiration; attempts to cover up or replace differences of national interests with ideological unity, conflicts between organizational principles of an alliance where some area leading and some are being led and basic principles of sovereignty and equality in international relations, and inter-party relations influencing, guiding or even replacing inter-state relations. These flaws were the reason why the relations within the Sino-Soviet alliance in a matter of several years went from being intimately close to being severely confrontational and the socialist camp remained divided, faced constant stress, and the need to reorganize.