A New History of the Cold War

In this new edition of his highly praised volume, A History of the Cold War, Professor Lukacs traces the rise to power of Russia and the United States from 1763 on, the influence of this on the course of world history, and particularly on Europe after 1945 when the continent became divided into American and Russian spheres of influence. He argues that this division is "the supreme condition of contemporary history," "not the Atomic Bomb and not Communism"; and in this light he criticizes both powers in his analysis of the crisis down through 1965. In newly written material he examines not only the Cuban crisis, but American policy toward Russia under Lyndon Johnson. The first section of the book concludes with the query: "Cold War or Cold Peace?". Part II appraises the social, material, national, and ideological factors that have shaped American and Russian destinies, including their relations with Europe; it also suggests which factors will assume most importance in determining the final outlet of the present deadlock between the great powers