On the Cold War (original) (raw)
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The Collapse of the Soviet Union
This paper delves into the true causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union, which completely surprised virtually all geopolitical pundits and analysts of the day. The paper then approaches what understanding these causes and their consequences can mean for the present and future of geopolitics.
Commissioned by Seth Offenbach (Bronx Community College, The City University of New York) As the title of this short edited volume indicates, the three decades since the Cold War ended have provided opportunities for scholars to examine new perspectives on transformations that may or may not have been-as the subtitle asks-unexpected. The publication of this volume suggests that the historiography of the end of the Cold War has advanced beyond stale debates over "win-
Encyclopedia of the Cold War. 2 vols.
3 short articles in Encyclopedia of the Cold War. 2 vols. Eds. Ruud van Dijk et al. “Chiang Kai-shek,” 1:138-141; “Great Leap Forward,” 1:379-381; “Liu Shaoqi,” 2:548-550. New York: Routledge, 2008. Between 1945 and 1991, tension between the USA, its allies, and a group of nations led by the USSR, dominated world politics. This period was called the Cold War – a conflict that stopped short to a full-blown war. Benefiting from the recent research of newly open archives, the Encyclopedia of the Cold War discusses how this state of perpetual tensions arose, developed, and was resolved. This work examines the military, economic, diplomatic, and political evolution of the conflict as well as its impact on the different regions and cultures of the world. Using a unique geopolitical approach that will present Russian perspectives and others, the work covers all aspects of the Cold War, from communism to nuclear escalation and from UFOs to red diaper babies, highlighting its vast-ranging and lasting impact on international relations as well as on daily life. Although the work will focus on the 1945–1991 period, it will explore the roots of the conflict, starting with the formation of the Soviet state, and its legacy to the present day.
The downturn of the East: The end of the Cold War and the American triumph
This paper seeks to answer the following questions: “Can the outcome of the Cold War be characterised as a triumph of US or “Western” liberalism? Alternatively, is there a more convincing interpretation?”. These questions are a broad and a deep argument to cope with at the same time. This work would try to give an attestable response based on the historical contingencies characterising the end of the Cold War and its long-term consequences: the victory of the West and the advent of its model of civilisation. The range of literature on the topic is extremely diverse. Amongst the scholarship, John Ikenberry, Sergio Fabbrini and Geir Lundestad contributed with excellent interpretations of the pivotal historical changes provoked by the end of the Cold War. They demonstrated how the Western model of civilisation not only affected but also shaped the Eastern hemisphere of the World. The choice of literature has been very mindful: considering the different schools of thoughts in the discipline of International Relations, the interpretations of these historians are constructivist, in the sense that they think leadership as the key factor to describe the outcome of the Cold War. The main matter of this research then would be to what extent they were right by verifying whether History gives greenlight to them or not.
Articles: [“Churchill, Winston (1874-1965), 31-34; (with Christopher John Bright), “Committee on the Present Danger,” 39-40; “Cuban Missile Crisis,” 48-52; “Dulles, John Foster (1888-1959),” 56-59; “Eisenhower, Dwight David (1890-1969),” 61-64; “Kennan, George Frost (1904-2005),” 99-101; “Kissinger, Henry Alfred (1923-),” 107-108; “Nixon, Richard Milhous (1913-1994),” 151-153; “Reagan, Ronald Wilson (1911-2004),” 184-187; “United Nations,” 222-228.] The impact of the Cold War is still being felt around the world today. This insightful single-volume reference captures the events and personalities of the era, while also inspiring critical thinking about this still-controversial period. Cold War: The Essential Reference Guide is intended to introduce students to the tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States that dominated international affairs in the second half of the 20th century. A comprehensive overview essay, plus separate essays on the causes and consequences of the conflict, will provide readers with the necessary context to understand the many facets of this complex era. The guide's expert contributors cover all of the influential people and pivotal events of the period, encompassing the United States, the Soviet Union, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa from political, military, and cultural perspectives. Reference entries offer valuable insight into the leaders and conflicts that defined the Cold War, while other essays promote critical thinking about controversial and significant Cold War topics, including whether Ronald Reagan was responsible for ending the Cold War, the impact of Sputnik on the Cold War, and the significance of the Prague Spring. Features •Several analytical essays by prominent historians, plus 85 additional A–Z reference entries about conflicts, incidents, leaders, and issues •35 examples of relevant primary source documents, including speeches, treaties, policy statements, and letters, such as the Marshall Plan and Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech •A detailed chronology of important events that occurred before, during, and after the Cold War •Numerous maps and images of key leaders and events •A comprehensive bibliography of print resources Highlights •Provides readers with a look inside the Cold War, pinpointing the main causes and consequences of this long-running conflict •Analyzes controversial Cold War topics that still generate widespread debate today to inspire critical thinking among readers •Supplements entries with a broad overview to help readers grasp the far-reaching implications of this worldwide conflict •Discusses key leaders and events in a scholarly, yet accessible manner
Sources, Methods, and Competing Perspectives on the End of the Cold War
Diplomatic History, 1997
The facts. .. are like fish swimming about in a vast and sometimes inaccessible ocean.. .. What the historian catches will depend partly on chance, but mainly on what part of the ocean he chooses to fish in and what tackle he chooses to use.-E. H. Carr It goes without saying that a decade of glasnost has been a boon to scholarship on Soviet politics and history, including diplomatic history. Although archival revelations have not, to date, supported any radically new interpretations of Soviet foreign policy, they have served to clarify important issues and strengthen one or another long-standing argument on the causes or consequences of the Cold War. Moreover, new documentary sources have contributed much to works that shed valuable light on precisely how the "Kremlin's Cold War" was waged. But the archival windfall brings potential pitfalls. And, as Carr's dictum serves to remind us, one of these is overreliance on the new sources, a temptation to view Politburo, Central Committee, or Foreign Ministry records as definitive in and of themselves. The temptation is understandable given that they offer access to what seems most important: the inner councils of a highly centralized, dictatorial system. But herein a danger lies, for so centralized and dictatorial was the Soviet system-fully autocratic under Josef Stalin-that the decision-making locus was not the Central Committee or Politburo, but Stalin's own mind. Also complicating the historian's task were Stalin's aversion to records of his deliberations and his pains to deflect responsibility and depict authority as lying elsewhere. Thus, the "black box" of early Cold War decision