The Last Decade of the Cold War: From Conflict Escalation to Conflict Transformation (Cass Series--Cold War History, 5)

The 1980s was a period of almost unprecedented rivalry and tension between the two main actors in the East-West conflict, the United States and the Soviet Union. Why and how that conflict first escalated and thereafter, in an amazingly swift process, was reversed and brought to its peaceful conclusion at the end of the decade is the topic of this volume. With individual contributions by eighteen well-known scholars of international relations and history from various countries, the book addresses the role of the United States, the former Soviet Union, and the countries of western and eastern Europe in that remarkable last decade of the Cold War, and discusses how particular events as well as underlying political, ideological, social, and economic factors may have contributed to the remarkable transformation that took place. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Series Editor's Preface......Page 8 List of Abbreviations......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 Part I The 1980s in Historical Context......Page 24 1. The 1980s Revisited or the Cold War as History—Again......Page 25 2. The Beginning and the End: Time, Context and the Cold War......Page 46 3. The European Role at the Beginning and Particularly the End of the Cold War......Page 73 Part II Explaining the Shift in Soviet Thinking and Policy......Page 91 4. Economic Constraints and the Turn Towards Superpower Cooperation in the 1980s......Page 92 5. Explaining the End of the Cold War: Turning Points in Soviet Security Policy......Page 122 6. The Sources of ‘New Thinking’ in Soviet Politics......Page 136 7. The Messianic Character of ‘New Thinking’: Why and What For?......Page 156 Part III The United States and The Ending of the Cold War......Page 171 8. The US Role in Winding Down the Cold War, 1980–90......Page 172 9. The Carter Legacy: Entering the Second Era of the Cold War......Page 186 10. The United States and the Transformation of the Cold War......Page 211 11. Reagan’s Anti-Revolutionary Offensive in the Third World......Page 224 Part IV Europe in the Last Decade of the Cold War......Page 243 12. Germany in the Last Decade of the Cold War......Page 244 13. Before the Wall: French Diplomacy and the Last Decade of the Cold War, 1979–89......Page 263 14. Helping to Open the Door? Britain in the Last Decade of the Cold War......Page 288 15. Italy and the Battle of the Euromissiles: The Deployment of the US BGM-109G 'Gryphon', 1979–83......Page 300 16. NATO’s Northern Frontline in the 1980s......Page 324 17. Playground of Superpowers, Poland 1980–89: A View from Inside......Page 334 18. Did Gorbachev Liberate Eastern Europe?......Page 359 Index......Page 378 The 1980s Revisited Or The Cold War As History--again / Michael Cox -- The Beginning And The End: Time, Context And The Cold War / Melvyn P. Leffler -- The European Role At The Beginning And Particularly The End Of The Cold War / Geir Lundestad -- Economic Constraints And The Turn Towards Superpower Cooperation In The 1980s / Stephen G. Brooks And William C. Wohlforth -- Explaining The End Of The Cold War: Turning Points In Soviet Security Policy / Matthew Evangelista -- The Sources Of 'new Thinking': Why And What For? / Jacques Lévesque -- The Us Role In Winding Down The Cold War, 1980-90 / Raymond L. Garthoff -- The Carter Legacy: Entering The Second Era Of The Cold War / Olav Njølstad -- The Unites States And The Transformation Of The Cold War / Beth A. Fischer -- Reagan's Anti-revolutionary Offensive In The Third World / Odd Arne Westad -- Germany In The Last Decade Of The Cold War / Hans-herman Herlte -- Before The Wall: French Diplomacy And The Last Decade Of The Cold War, 1979-1989 / Frédéric Bozo -- Helping To Open The Door? Britain In The Last Decade Of The Cold War / Sean Greenwood -- Italy And The Battle Of The Euromissiles: The Deployment Of The Us Bgm-109 G 'gryphon', 1979-83 / Leopoldo Nuti -- Nato's Northern Frontline In The 1980s / Olav Ristle -- Playground Of Superpowers, Poland 1980-89: A View From Inside / Andrzej Paczkowski -- Did Gorbachev Liberate Eastern Europe? / Vojtech Mastny Editor: Olav Njølstad. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The last decade of the Cold War witnessed the transformation of world politics with the collapse of one-party Communist rule in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. This book explains how it happened and why