Myths of the Cold War: Amending Historiographic Distortions

by Albert L. Weeks

Overview

In this book, Albert L. Weeks provides a lucid analysis of the Cold War as he dispels the myths that have made their way into contemporary historiography on the topic, while using the conflict as a lens through which to view contemporary crises, such as Russia’s recent intervention in Ukraine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739189696
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	07/02/2014
Pages:	154
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Albert L. Weeks served in the U.S. Department of State as senior Soviet analyst during the Cold War and is the author of several books on international affairs.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I Introduction; Distorted Cold War Historiography CHAPTER 2 Cold War Basics ·Looming Cold War, 1943-1946 ·Cold War Calendar ·A "New" Postwar Stalin? CHAPTER 3 Myth of Ideological Irrelevance ·Ideology and the Cold War ·The Realist View ·Traditionalist View ·Soviet Diplomatic "Warfare" CHAPTER 4 Fallacy of Stalin's "Defencist Security" ·Stalin's Empty Argument ·Moscow's Post-Soviet Attempts at Unity ·Soviet Doctrine of Expansion ·Finland ·Ukraine ·Other Borderland Countries ·Special Cases of the Baltic States and Poland ·Expansion if the Far East ·American Reaction ·Prewar, Wartime, Postwar Soviet Expansion ·Soviet Expansion, 1940-1946 ·Expansionism of 1939 to June 1941 ·Resistance to Further Expansion CHAPTER 5 Cold War Clash Over New Postwar World ·The Roosevelt Factor ·Stalin's "World" vs. Western Projection ·Clashes Between "Civilizations" CHAPTER 6 Current Russian Texts on the Cold War ·Post-Soviet Textbooks ·Other Post-Soviet Books CHAPTER 7 Lessons for the "Next" Cold War ·China Cold War Case ·Avoiding old Wars ·Preventive Measures ·How "Marxist" Is China? ·Conclusions APPENDIX I OWI/War Department Handbook on USSR (1946) APPENDIX II Stalin's and Molotov's Electoral Speeches, February 1946 APPENDIX III Andrei A. Zhdanov on "Two-World Struggle"

Editorial Reviews

Albert L. Weeks's formidable juxtaposition of arguments from Cold War participants and historians contributes much to our understanding of the still rampant controversies, such as the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. Especially valuable are his many translations from Soviet and post-Soviet era documents, supplied in context. These documents have been largely unavailable to those who do not read Russian. This book is an invaluable research compendium for readers, scholars, lay historians, and students alike.

Richard Raack

Albert Weeks. .. has produced a concise and polemical book. Myths of the Cold War: Amending Historiographic Distortions pulls you up short with its meticulous survey of how Russia spooked the West into reacting in unusually bellicose terms.. . .Should another cold war emerge, this book will serve as a useful backgrounder.

The American Spectator