Peter Ruggenthaler, The Concept of Neutrality in Stalin's Foreign Policy, 1945–1953. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2015. 442 pp. $120.00.

This comprehensively researched book explores the Soviet Union's policy toward Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway from 1945 until the death of Iosif Stalin in 1953. In confronting this ambitious task, Peter Ruggenthaler seeks to answer a basic question: “What did neutrality look like when seen from Moscow in the early stage of the Cold War” (p. xx). He argues that Stalin viewed neutrality as a foreign policy instrument or “propaganda tool.” To demonstrate this point across several countries, Ruggenthaler highlights “the plans, strategies, tactical considerations and goals of the Soviet Central East European and East European policies on the basis of the most up-to-date state of research” (p. xvi). Covering all of this in a single volume would be nearly impossible, and Ruggenthaler therefore offers the caveat that he will not be presenting “theoretical disquisitions” on “neutrality,” “neutralization,” and “nonalignment” (p. xix). The resulting fast-paced, dense, insightful narrative,...