Synopses & Reviews
Although traditional interpretations of the Cold War--based on a narrow, bilateral paradigm--have considered only Russian and American viewpoints, a whole new generation of European scholars has recently emerged, arguing for the necessity of a third-party perpective. In East, West, North, South, Norwegian scholar Geir Lundestad not only presents a thorough, well-balanced, and insightful account of Soviet-American antagonism; he also examines the divisions between the 'developed' and 'non-developed' worlds. Used as a basic textbook in all four of Norway's universities, this is an excellent introduction to late 20th-century international relations and includes a perceptive critical review of contemporary issues such as deterrence, economic development, and arms control.
Synopsis
New conflicts emerged in international politics after the end of WWII, as tensions built between East and West, and relations between North and South were characterized first by decolonization and then by economic inequality. This updated third edition of one of the leading works on the political history of the post-war era offers a clearly written overview of the subject for students and general readers alike.
Synopsis
This book offers a thorough, balanced, and insightful account of how Soviet-American antagonism developed, evolved, and still affects contemporary international relations. The author gives equal attention to divisions between the "developed" and "non-developed" worlds, a conflict that, at first, only sporadically intersected Soviet-American relations, and whose linkage to them is not always clear today. Topics covered include deterrence, economic development, arms control, and the projection of superpower influence in the world at large.
About the Author
Geir Lundestad is Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute and Professor of International History at the University of Oslo. His numerous publications include
The American Empire and other Studies of US Foreign Policy in Comparative Perspective (1990),
The Fall of the Great Powers, Peace, Stability, and Legitimacy (1994), and
Empire by Integration: The United States and European Integration, 1945-1997 (1998).
Table of Contents
1. The World in 1945-1950
2. The Cold War in Europe, 1945-1949
3. The Cold War Becomes Global, 1945-1962
4. Detente between East and West, 1962-1975
5. Renewed Tension between East and West, 1975-1984
6. The End of the Cold War, 1984-1990
7. Major Powers and Local Conflicts after the Cold War, 1990-1998
8. The Arms Race, 1945-1998
9. Developments within the Western Bloc, 1945-1998
10. The Soviet Union/Russia and the (formerly) Communist Countries, 1945-1998
11. Decolonization
12. Economic Relations between North and South, 1945-1998