The Cambridge History of the Cold War: Volume 3, Endings

The Cambridge History of the Cold War #3

by Melvyn P. Leffler (Editor), Odd Arne Westad (Editor)

Volume III of The Cambridge History of the Cold War examines the evolution of the conflict from the Helsinki Conference of 1975 until the Soviet collapse in 1991. A team of leading scholars analyzes the economic, social, cultural, religious, technological and geopolitical factors that ended the Cold War and discusses the personalities and policies of key leaders such as Brezhnev, Reagan, Gorbachev, Thatcher, Kohl and Deng Xiaoping. The authors show how events throughout the world shaped the evolution of Soviet-American relations and they explore the legacies of the superpower confrontation in a comparative and transnational perspective. Individual chapters examine how the Cold War affected and was affected by environmental issues, economic trends, patterns of consumption, human rights and non-governmental organizations. The volume represents the new international history at its best, emphasizing broad social, economic, demographic and strategic developments while keeping politics and human agency in focus.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Academic

714 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2010

About the author

Melvyn Paul is an American historian and educator, currently Edward Stettinius Professor of History at the University of Virginia

Reviews

[Steve Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume 3 presents the reliable shit-ton of amazing information (especially around Latin America and the root causes of Russia's '79 invasion of Afghanistan) that the previous 50 chapters have accustomed us to. I think it also addresses several areas that felt underrepresented in the previous volumes.

This history is monumental, and it provides the most comprehensive history of the period. My one disappointment is that it fails to address the governments' relations with big business. These relations were profoundly shaped by a cold war mentality, and many of the institutional structures that evolved around these relations are still around exerting influence.

[AskHistorians]

By far the most comprehensive book on the entirety of the Cold War, from origins to the collapse to resulting consequences. Written by eminent scholars in the field. A must read.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good and informative academic text, bringing to an end a three-volume companion to the Cold War.

[Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

same as other two ! though a couple of the arguments presented here felt kind of specious / weak to me.

[liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

biosphere and agriculture 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[Sarah u · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes for my reference:


April 2017

Essay 7: 'The collapse of superpower detente, 1975-1980' by Olav Njolstad

Essay 12: 'The Gorbachev Revolution and the end of the Cold War' by Archie Brown

Essay 16: 'The unification of Germany, 1985-1991' by Helga Haftendorn