DEBATING THE ORIGINS OF COLD CB
Publication date:
26 March 2002Length of book:
208 pagesISBN-13: 9780847694075
Debating the Origins of the Cold War examines the coming of the Cold War through Americans' and Russians' contrasting perspectives and actions. In two engaging essays, the authors demonstrate that a huge gap existed between the democratic, capitalist, and global vision of the post-World War II peace that most Americans believed in and the dictatorial, xenophobic, and regional approach that characterized Soviet policies. The authors argue that repeated failures to find mutually acceptable solutions to concrete problems led to the rapid development of the Cold War, and they conclude that, given the respective concerns and perspectives of the time, both superpowers were largely justified in their courses of action. Supplemented by primary sources, including documents detailing Soviet espionage in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s and correspondence between Premier Josef Stalin and Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov during postwar meetings, this is the first book to give equal attention to the U.S. and Soviet policies and perspectives.
The interpretative essays are thoughtful. They are judicious. They possess analytical elegance. The selection of Soviet and U.S. documents is exactly right, giving both a flavor of the times and a revealing glimpse into the quality of thought in Moscow and Washington. This first-rate book will appeal to university students and to specialists in Cold War history. -- David Mayers, Boston University Brings fresh perspectives to an important question. It is genuinely and uniquely bi-national in its approach. The co-authored essays provide insight into the complex issues in Soviet-American relations, and the documents are well-chosen. Especially valuable are those documents from the Soviet side, which help immensely in understanding Moscow's strategic concerns and objectives. -- Gary R. Hess, Bowling Green State University Based on recently released Soviet as well as American documentation, Debating the Origins of the Cold War is an excellent introduction to a contentious subject, filled with fresh insights and sure to be of interest both to first-time students and to experienced historians. -- John Lewis Gaddis, Yale University A very useful book. Political Studies Review Combining American and Russian scholarship in each essay, this unique approach provides an insightful and intriguing look at American and Soviet perceptions by using a framework of combinations. Through both perspectives, the authors create a balanced, thorough, and thoughtful synthesis that offers students a clear and concise picture of the various factors that contributed to the beginning of this long, odd, and potentially catastrophic conflict. History Teacher Debating the Origins of the Cold War is a highly original synthesis of recent discoveries and scholarship. The book casts new light on Stalin's motivations and strategies, and examines the early Cold War through the eyes of both Western and Soviet leaders. Debating the Origins of the Cold War will be useful to instructors teaching this controversial and important subject. -- Robert E. Herzstein, University of South Carolina, author of Henry R. Luce: A Political Portrait An intelligent, judicious, and cautious narrative. It focuses as much on the quality of American leadership and the relevant aspects of American society and culture as on the international situation. -- Abbott Gleason, Brown University