"This study provides a comprehensive examination of the breaking of political relations between China and the Soviet Union. Based on archival materials from several countries--particularly China--the authors analyze the split from 1959, when visible cracks in the relationship appeared, to China's foreign policy shift toward the United States in 1973"-- Provided by publisher.

Open struggles and temporary truce, 1959-1961 -- The collapse of party relations and the deterioration of state relations, October 1961 to July 1964 -- Mao's changing perception of internal disturbances and external threats, from mid-1963 to the end of 1964 -- The East Asian communist parties and the Sino-Soviet split, 1964-1965 -- The schism of the international communist movement and the collapse of the alliance, 1965 -- The breakdown of state relations and Sino-Soviet military confrontations, 1966-1973 -- Epilogue : the causes of the breakdown and its consequences.