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Studies in Conflict, Diplomacy, and Peace
Remaking the World: Decolonization and the Cold War
Between 1945 and 1965, more than fifty nations declared their independence from colonial rule. At the height of the Cold War, the global process of decolonization complicated US-Soviet relations, while Soviet and American interventionism transformed the decolonizing process.
Remaking the World examines the connections between the Cold War and decolonization, which helped define the post–World War II global order. Drawing on new scholarship, this comprehensive study provides a chronological overview from World War I to the Soviet collapse and highlights key developments in the international system as decolonization unfolded in tandem with the Cold War. Through six carefully selected case studies―India, Egypt, the Congo, Vietnam, Angola, and Iran―historian Jessica M. Chapman addresses the shifting of Soviet, American, Chinese, and Cuban policies, the centrality of modernization, the role of the United Nations, the often-outsized influence of regional actors like Israel and South Africa, and seminal post–Vietnam War shifts in the international system. Each of the case studies analyzes at least one geopolitical turning point, demonstrating that the Cold War and decolonization were mutually constitutive processes in which local, national, and regional developments altered the superpower competition.
Chapman presents a picture of the complexities of international relations and the ways in which local communist and democratic movements differed from their Soviet and American ties, as did their visions for independence and success.
Remaking the World examines the connections between the Cold War and decolonization, which helped define the post–World War II global order. Drawing on new scholarship, this comprehensive study provides a chronological overview from World War I to the Soviet collapse and highlights key developments in the international system as decolonization unfolded in tandem with the Cold War. Through six carefully selected case studies―India, Egypt, the Congo, Vietnam, Angola, and Iran―historian Jessica M. Chapman addresses the shifting of Soviet, American, Chinese, and Cuban policies, the centrality of modernization, the role of the United Nations, the often-outsized influence of regional actors like Israel and South Africa, and seminal post–Vietnam War shifts in the international system. Each of the case studies analyzes at least one geopolitical turning point, demonstrating that the Cold War and decolonization were mutually constitutive processes in which local, national, and regional developments altered the superpower competition.
Chapman presents a picture of the complexities of international relations and the ways in which local communist and democratic movements differed from their Soviet and American ties, as did their visions for independence and success.
- GenresHistory
316 pages, Hardcover
First published July 25, 2023
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September 16, 2025
"Remaking the World: Decolonization and the Cold War" by Jessica Chapman offers a detailed exploration of the relationship between decolonization processes and Cold War dynamics through a diverse and well-selected set of case studies. Each case study is covered in detail, underpinned by robust research, allowing readers to grasp the complexities and nuances of postwar geopolitical transformations in multiple regions. Chapman's approach to dissecting the local and global reverberations of decolonization brings a valuable dimension to the existing scholarship on Cold War studies and international history.
The book's case studies, including Angola, Congo, Egypt, India, Iran, and Vietnam, collectively highlight the multifaceted nature of decolonization. Chapman's delves deeply into the distinct political, social, and ideological environments that shaped each case. However, as a stylistic observation, Chapman's frequent reliance on quotations from other scholars is tiresome and adds little substantive weight to the argument or analysis. Indeed, at times, this practice detracts from the author's voice and original insights.
The book's insightful conclusion highlights the interconnectedness of decolonization events across different regions and their interplay with US - Soviet Cold War tensions. The recognition and exposure of these global linkages is a significant contribution to the field. Yet, this insightful synthesis tends to get lost in the extensive historical detail provided for each respective country's case study. The argument's would have been enhanced by developing a stronger analytical thread connecting the diverse case studies, and reinforcing the overarching themes as the book progresses. This would have better supported the conclusion, allowing the reader to appreciate the emphasis on global interrelations more completely.
Overall, "Remaking the World" serves as an excellent starting point for researchers interested in the geopolitics of decolonization and Cold War interactions. It offers a rich foundation of case studies and material that inspires further inquiry. Nevertheless, the book also points to the need for more comprehensive and integrative scholarship that bridges detailed research with sustained theoretical argumentation. Researchers who embark from Chapman's work will find abundant opportunities to expand and deepen the understanding of these critical historical processes.
Jessica Chapman's work is a valuable contribution to the literature on decolonization and Cold War history, marked by strong research and a wide array of case studies, though it would benefit from more consistent analytical integration and a more original voice free from excessive scholarly quotation. It sets the stage well for future studies that seek to map the global dimensions of these entwined historical phenomena.
The book's case studies, including Angola, Congo, Egypt, India, Iran, and Vietnam, collectively highlight the multifaceted nature of decolonization. Chapman's delves deeply into the distinct political, social, and ideological environments that shaped each case. However, as a stylistic observation, Chapman's frequent reliance on quotations from other scholars is tiresome and adds little substantive weight to the argument or analysis. Indeed, at times, this practice detracts from the author's voice and original insights.
The book's insightful conclusion highlights the interconnectedness of decolonization events across different regions and their interplay with US - Soviet Cold War tensions. The recognition and exposure of these global linkages is a significant contribution to the field. Yet, this insightful synthesis tends to get lost in the extensive historical detail provided for each respective country's case study. The argument's would have been enhanced by developing a stronger analytical thread connecting the diverse case studies, and reinforcing the overarching themes as the book progresses. This would have better supported the conclusion, allowing the reader to appreciate the emphasis on global interrelations more completely.
Overall, "Remaking the World" serves as an excellent starting point for researchers interested in the geopolitics of decolonization and Cold War interactions. It offers a rich foundation of case studies and material that inspires further inquiry. Nevertheless, the book also points to the need for more comprehensive and integrative scholarship that bridges detailed research with sustained theoretical argumentation. Researchers who embark from Chapman's work will find abundant opportunities to expand and deepen the understanding of these critical historical processes.
Jessica Chapman's work is a valuable contribution to the literature on decolonization and Cold War history, marked by strong research and a wide array of case studies, though it would benefit from more consistent analytical integration and a more original voice free from excessive scholarly quotation. It sets the stage well for future studies that seek to map the global dimensions of these entwined historical phenomena.
Displaying 1 of 1 review