The Cold War: The United States and the Soviet Union, 1917-1991

by Ronald E. Powaski, Powaski, Ronald E. Powaski, Ronald E.

For half of the twentieth century, the Cold War gripped the world. International relations everywhere--and domestic policy in scores of nations--pivoted around this central point, the American-Soviet rivalry. Even today, much of the world's diplomacy grapples with chaos created by the Cold War's sudden disappearance. Here indeed is a subject that defies easy understanding. Now comes a definitive account, a startlingly fresh, clear eyed, comprehensive history of our century's longest struggle.
In The Cold War , Ronald E. Powaski offers a new perspective on the great rivalry, even as he provides a coherent, concise narrative. He wastes no time in challenging the reader to think of the Cold War in new ways, arguing that the roots of the conflict are centuries old, going back to Czarist Russia and to the very infancy of the American nation. He shows that both Russia and America were expansionist nations with messianic complexes, and the people of both nations believed they possessed a unique mission in history. Except for a brief interval in 1917, Americans perceived the Russian government (whether Czarist or Bolshevik) as despotic; Russians saw the United States as conspiring to prevent it from reaching its place in the sun. U.S. military intervention in Russia's civil war, with the aim of overthrowing Lenin's upstart regime, entrenched Moscow's fears. Soviet American relations, difficult before World War II--when both nations were relatively weak militarily and isolated
from world affairs--escalated dramatically after both nations emerged as the world's major military powers. Powaski paints a portrait of the spiraling tensions with stark clarity, as each new development added to the the Marshall Plan, the communist coup in Czechoslovakia, the Berlin blockade, the formation of NATO, the first Soviet nuclear test. In this atmosphere, Truman found it easy to believe that the Communist victory in China and the Korean War were products of Soviet expansionism. He and his successors extended their own web of mutual defense treaties, covert actions, and military interventions across the globe--from the Caribbean to the Middle East and, finally to Southeast Asia, where containment famously foundered in the bog of Vietnam.
Powaski skillfully highlights the domestic politics, diplomatic maneuvers, and even psychological factors as he untangles the knot that bound the two superpowers together in conflict. From the nuclear arms race, to the impact of U.S. recognition of China on detente, to Brezhnev's inflexible persistence in competing with America everywhere, he casts new light on familiar topics. Always judicious in his assessments, Powaski gives due credit to Reagan and especially Bush in facilitating the Soviet collapse, but also notes that internal economic failure, not outside pressure, proved decisive in the Communist failure. Perhaps most important, he offers a clear eyed assessment of the lasting distortions the struggle wrought upon American institutions, raising questions about whether anyone really won the Cold War. With clarity, fairness, and insight, he offers the definitive account of our century's longest international rivalry.

Genres: History, Russia, War

356 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jack Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for student-teaching a college-level unit on the Cold War, and quickly found an experience more interesting than I had anticipated. I've never been very good at diligently studying textbook-style books with their straightforward and unimaginative prose, but this text did a solid and engaging job at efficiently summarizing the fifty-year period's causes, notable events, and immediate impacts.

Not something I would ever read for fun, but it did its job very well. Kudos to the author for excellent historical summation and analysis.

My only gripes are as follows: I noticed several typos throughout the text (of little impact to the overall purpose, however); certain bits of writing felt clumsy and rushed; and the sections discussing numerous types of nuclear weapons and missiles and their fluctuating numbers in response to the period's different arms treaties were difficult to get through in their banal specificity.

[Jills_Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, thorough, and well written history of the Cold War.
The Cold War is a very convoluted series of conflicts, crises, and proxy nation wars. For that reason, I've always found it difficult to study. After the third crises I find myself getting bored or frustrated. This book changed that for me. Powaski charts this war clearly and eloquently from beginning to end. I really enjoyed this book.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on the Cold War. As usual, Powaski provides detail that isn't usually found in other surveys. Highly recommended.

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completo y resumido análisis de uno de los conflictos más largos de la historia de la humanidad. Muy interesante y ameno.

[Daniel]

it is a very well researched book. unfortunately it is too historic (not that easy to read) so you have to stay focused all time, otherwise it is hard to read. but If you Focus, very Nice read