Vladislav Zubok The World of the Cold War : 1945-1991 Hardback Book

FINALIST FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE Monumental and highly readable... by smartly knitting together the past with the present, Zubok brings a prescient and fresh perspective Financial TimesA sweeping, original history of the Cold War, from an acclaimed historian of the USSRWhy did the Cold War erupt so soon after the Second World War? How did it escalate so rapidly, spanning five continents over six decades? And what led to the spectacular collapse of the Soviet Union? In this comprehensive guide to the most widespread conflict in contemporary history, Vladislav Zubok traces the origins of the Cold War in postwar Europe, through the tumultuous decades of confrontation, to the fall of the Berlin Wall and beyond. With remarkable clarity and unique perspective, Zubok argues that the Cold War, often seen as an existential battle between capitalist democracy and totalitarian communism, has long been misunderstood. He challenges the popular Western narrative that economic superiority and democratic values led the USA to victory. Instead, he looks beyond the familiar images of EastWest rivalry, shining a light on the impact of nonWestern actors and placing the war in the context of global decolonization, Soviet weakness and the accidents of history. Here, he interrogates what happens when stability and peace are no longer the default, when treaties are broken and when diplomacy ceases to function. Drawing on years of research and informed by Zuboks three decades in the USSR followed by... | Vladislav Zubok The World of the Cold War : 1945-1991 Hardback Book