Margins for Manoeuvre in Cold War Europe : The Influence of Smaller Powers

The Cold War is conventionally regarded as a superpower conflict that dominated the shape of international relations between World War II and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Smaller powers had to adapt to a role as pawns in a strategic game of the superpowers, its course beyond their control. This edited volume offers a fresh interpretation of twentieth-century smaller European powers – East–West, neutral and non-aligned – and argues that their position vis-à-vis the superpowers often provided them with an opportunity rather than merely representing a constraint. Analysing the margins for manoeuvre of these smaller powers, the volume covers a wide array of themes, ranging from cultural to economic issues, energy to diplomacy and Bulgaria to Belgium. Given its holistic and nuanced intervention in studies of the Cold War, this book will be instrumental for students of history, international relations and political science. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Contributors List of abbreviations Introduction: smaller powers in Cold War Europe Part I Manoeuvring through multilateralism 1 Challenging the superpower straitjacket (1965–1975): multilateralism as an instrument of smaller powers 2 Multilateralism as small power strategy: the Netherlands, the Benelux and the European defence community (1950–1952) 3 Small states, alliances and the margins for manoeuvre in the Cold War: Sweden, Norway and the CSCE 4 A critical ally (1949–1977): the Dutch social democrats, Spain and NATO Part II The margins of superpower rule 5 Manoeuvring into the Soviet market: Polish and Finnish Eastern trade practices during the Cold War 6 The imperative of opening to the West and the impact of the 1968 crisis: Bulgaria’s cooperation with Denmark and West Germany in the 1960s 7 Americanising the Belgian civilising mission (1941–1961): the Belgian information centre in New York and the campaign to cast the Belgian civilising mission as part of the Point IV Programme 8 A gas giant in a small state’s clothes (1981–1982): a political economy analysis of the Dutch margins for manoeuvre during the Urengoy pipeline crisis Part III Identity as an instrument 9 Neutrality as an instrument for small state manoeuvring and the globalisation of neutrality in the Cold War 10 Denuclearisation and regional cooperation: Romania’s tactical approaches to escaping bloc rigidities 11 Transitional margins to re-join the West: Spain’s dual strategy of democratisation and Europeanisation 12 ‘At last, our voice is heard in the world’: Greece and the Six Nation Initiative during the Euromissile crisis Conclusion: shedding a new light on Cold War Europe Index "The Cold War is conventionally regarded as a superpower conflict which dominated the shape of international relations between World War II and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Smaller powers had to adapt to a role as pawns in a strategic game of the superpowers, its course beyond their control. This edited volume offers a fresh interpretation of twentieth century smaller European powers - East West, neutral and non-aligned - and argues that their position vis-à-vis the superpowers often provided them with an opportunity rather than merely representing a constraint. Analysing the margins for manoeuvre of these smaller powers, the volume covers a wide array of themes, ranging from cultural to economic issues, energy to diplomacy and Bulgaria to Belgium. Given its holistic and nuanced intervention in studies of the Cold War, this book will be instrumental for students of history, international relations and political science"-- Provided by publisher