Synopsis
"Examines the Cold War and its impact on America, the Soviet Union, and the world. Features include narrative overviews of key events and trends, 100+ primary source documents, chronology, glossary, bibliography, and subject index""--Provided by publisher.
Elizabeth TalbotCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up
This compilation of excerpts from speeches, letters, interviews, protocols, and news conferences covers the time from "The End of World War II and the Descent of the Iron Curtain" to "Russia and the World in the Post-Cold War Era." The 14 chapters examine topics such as the Marshall Plan, McCarthyism, the Vietnam War, proxy wars in Central and South America as well as détente, Reagan and Gorbachev, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Some students might find the treaty excerpts a challenge to read, but they will probably be enthralled by personal accounts such as the one by a commander of the Berlin Airlift. A major contribution is the inclusion of primary sources from opposing sides that analyze their perceived enemy's Cold War foreign policy. This comparison of viewpoints should greatly expand readers' understanding of the complexity of world issues and how they can be affected by ideology. The balanced selections reveal historical misjudgments as well as wise decisions. There is no final chapter on the United States to match "Russia and the World in the Post-Cold War Era," but this is a minor concern. An excellent addition.