One of the first in Russian historiography, the author explores the origin and evolution of the doctrinal-conceptual and concrete-practical foundations of the international activities of the Soviet state; the formation and functioning of the state mechanism for the development and implementation of the main directions of international policy; conformity or inconsistency of this policy with the public and state interests of the country and society; basic facts and milestones of a specific international policy (through diplomacy and the Comintern). The book also deals with the price (literally and figuratively) that the people had to pay for this or that act in the field of international state policy.