Cold War

VOYA - William R. Mollineaux

If you have been searching for a readable, objective, interesting, lucid account of Soviet-American relations from 1945 to 1991 that will captivate high school students and capable junior high students, then you must consider the Cold War. Beginning with necessary background bout the Communist takeover of Russia, Warren clearly explains why the Communists' ideas and actions worried Western countries. While discussing relations between the Western Allies-namely the United States and Great Britain-and the Soviet Union during World War II, Warren shows how, as the war drew to a close, their irreconcilable differences caused the alliance to unravel. When examining relations after the defeat of Hitler, Warren focuses on America's perception that Stalin, like Hitler, sought "to dominate the world and destroy the existence of capitalist societies," and Stalin's perception "that the United States and its Western Allies sought through 'capitalist encirclement' to crush the Soviet Union and the political ideas it stood for." Warren also emphases that these perceptions and their ramifications became articles of faith for the two respective superpowers and that all foreign policy decisions were predicated upon them. The first two chapters describe how Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe, coupled with communist activities in countries such as Greece and Turkey, caused the U. S. To take bold initiatives, specifically the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Other chapters focus on the Berlin Airlift and the "loss" of China; the Korean War; the Red Scare in the U. S.; the Vietnam War; the policies pursued during the presidencies of Eisenhower through Bush; and how Gorbachev's glasnost and perestroika contributed to the fall of the Iron Curtain and the breakup of the Soviet Union itself. The last chapter, "Reflections," discusses the collapse of communism, U. S. Mistakes, and recent developments. Particularly well handled are the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the collapse of the Soviet system. Equally fascinating is Warren's description of how U. S. Policy makers permitted their revulsion of communism to result in supporting inept, corrupt, anti-democratic leaders, particularly in Asia and Latin America, only because these leaders were hostile toward communism. Concomitantly, even when communist leaders, Ho Chi Minh and Mao, demonstrated their independence from Moscow, the U. S. Would have nothing to do with them, thus sacrificing opportunities to effect democratic reform. Upon completing this book, the reader will appreciate Warren's respect toward most key decision makers on both sides for their sense of commitment, dedication, restraint, self-discipline, and unwillingness to sacrifice for causes in which they believed. As Warren states, "The cold war could very easily have ended in nuclear holocaust." Cold War is an indispensable resource for helping young adults understand Soviet-American relations after World War II. Index. Photos. Maps. Charts. Biblio. Source Notes. Further Reading. Chronology. Appendix VOYA Codes: 5Q 4P J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written, Broad general YA appeal, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12). Lee & Shepard,

School Library Journal

Gr 9 UpA readable, cogently argued, and comprehensive analysis of the 50-year struggle on the part of America to contain Soviet Communist expansionism. Warren begins with a clear treatment of George Keenan's containment policy, which was formulated during the Truman presidency just after the end of World War II, and describes how this diplomatic stance was transformed into a military policy that permeated American politics for half a century. The coverage is broad and includes discussion of the Korean War, McCarthyism, the Hiss Case, the Rosenbergs, loyalty oaths, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Berlin Wall, the Vietnam War, detente with the Soviets and the Chinese, Reagan's anti-communist action in Latin America, and the fall of the Soviet Union. Warren sees the Cold War as a diplomatic policy that unnecessarily restricted the civil liberties of Americans and unwisely increased U.S. military expenditures resulting in disastrous foreign involvements. But he also claims that America's success in containing Soviet power was a major reason (though not the only reason) for the Soviet Union's disintegration. An exceptionally intelligent and measured look at the forces driving American foreign policy during the latter half of the 20th century.Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego

Kirkus Reviews

The Cold War was America's longest war, lasting almost 50 years. In this thought-provoking "survey history of an American crusade," Warren (Portrait of a Tragedy: America and the Vietnam War, 1990, etc.) outlines the struggle between democracy and Communism and describes the key events, themes, and decision makers. In contrast with American leaders after WW II, who felt that the Cold War was a moral crusade in which the United States was "good" and the Soviet Union "evil," Warren adopts a more neutral presentation: "I came to admire the restraint and discipline on both sides. The Cold War could very easily have ended in nuclear holocaust." In addition, Warren's writing is clear and concise—his explanations of terms (isolationism, containment, détente, realpolitik, glasnost, perestroika) will be understandable to YAs. Although Warren concludes that the Communist system "simply did not provide a satisfactory way of life" nor did it "demonstrate any real capacity to address social and economic problems as they arose," in which "capitalistic democracies proved to be surprisingly adept," he believes that "the obsession with communism often blinded the United States to the realities and problems faced by other countries."

This deftly written history of the Cold War should be included in all collections of books dealing with this period of time.