Historical Dictionary of the Cold War


Book Description

Covering an extensive period and much of the globe, this dictionary presents a year-by-year chronology and alphabetical entries on civilian and military leaders, crucial countries and peripheral conflicts, the increasingly lethal weapons systems, and the various political and military strategies.




Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy during the Cold War


Book Description

This Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy during the Cold War offers readers a comprehensive, accessible survey of the principal actors and events involved in the making of United States foreign policy during a crucial period in the nation’s history. The Cold War saw the United States acquire superpower status, and to be closely involved in events around the globe. Foreign policy became a central issue in domestic politics. The confrontations with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its allies and satellites, and with the forces of international communism dominated U.S. interactions with the world throughout this period. This book covers this turbulent period through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 900 cross-referenced entries on key persons, policies, events, institutions, and organizations, along with issues such as the division of Germany after World War II, the creation of the People’s Republic of China, European economic recovery, communist movements in the third worlds, decolonization, the Vietnam War, and the nuclear arms race. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about U.S. diplomacy during the cold war.




Historical Dictionary of Cold War Intelligence


Book Description

The Cold War was a sophisticated conflict fought by the west, principally the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with support from NATO, CENTO and SEATO, to confront the Kremlin and its Warsaw Pact satellites. The battlegrounds extended from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Byelorussia and Albania to Czechoslovakia, Poland and Hungary, and resulted in conventional, proxy wars fought in Vietnam, Egypt and Korea. Only now, thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, can these issues be examined through the prism of the secret files generated by the intelligence agencies on both sides which have been declassified. This Historical Dictionary of Cold War Intelligence contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on crucial operations spies, defectors, moles, double and triple agents, and the tradecraft they apply. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about intelligence during the Cold War.




Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Civil War


Book Description

This second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Civil War studies the longer, broader war and its chronology carefully tracks the major events. The introduction then provides a broad overview, describing the contending forces, and showing how the Communists come out on top. The details, and these are crucial, are laid out in over 200 cross-referenced dictionary entries dealing with the opposing forces and parties, the major campaigns and battles, the Long March, and of course the leadership on both sides. This book, one of few such in English, provides a very solid basis for study, but that can be accomplished more effectively by consulting the titles listed in an extensive bibliography.




Historical Dictionary of Cold War Counterintelligence


Book Description

The defection of Igor Gouzenko in September 1945, more so than any other single event, alerted the West to the nature and scale of the Soviet espionage offensive being waged by the Kremlin. Apart from the dozen or so defendants convicted of spying, Gouzenko wrecked an organization that had taken years to develop, exposed the penetration of the Manhattan atomic weapons project, and demonstrated the very close relationship between the Canadian Communist Party and Moscow. Many credit this event as sparking the bitter but secretive struggle fought between the intelligence agencies of the East and West for nearly half a century. The Historical Dictionary of Cold War Counterintelligence tells the story of both sides' fierce efforts to penetrate and subvert the opponent while desperately trying to avoid a similar fate. Through a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on the organizations, operations, events, and personalities that influenced counterintelligence during the Cold War, the world of double agents, spies, and moles is explained in the most comprehensive reference currently available.




Historical Dictionary of the Korean War


Book Description

The Korean War has often been regarded as a forgotten war, although that is certainly unfair. It was, if anything, a rather crucial war within the ambit of the Cold War, started by North Korea in 1950 and, although the bulk of the fighting was over by 1954, peace has never been concluded and the two sides still face off over the demilitarized zone. On the other side of the zone is South Korea, which has since become a very prosperous and democratic country, while North Korea has achieved relatively little. So, that war is certainly not forgotten by the Koreans. And, given the large number of deaths and casualties, it is still remembered by many in the United States and other allies, as well as China and the Soviet Union. This Historical Dictionary of the Korean War, now in its second edition, does much to jolt our memory and inform us about the war. This is done first in a lengthy chronology, tracking the war but also the path to war and what happened after. The introduction covers the war as a whole, trying to make sense of it. The dictionary section provides all of the necessary details on significant persons, places and events, battles and other engagements, military units and material, as well as the political, economic and social background. There are also maps and a list of acronyms. This is really the ideal source for information, in addition to which, it also has an extensive bibliography.




Historical Dictionary of United States-Russian/Soviet Relations


Book Description

For more than 200 years the United States and Russia have shared a multi-faceted relationship. Because of the rise of power the two countries enjoyed in the late 19th and through the 20th century, Russian-American relations have dominated much of recent world history. Prior to World War II the two countries had relatively friendly contacts in culture, commerce, and diplomacy, however, as they contested for supremacy during the Cold War relations turned hostile and competitive. With the apparent end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Soviet Union and of communism in 1991, the relationship continues to evolve and the future looks uncertain but promising. The Historical Dictionary of United States-Russian/Soviet Relations identifies the key issues, individuals, and events in the history of U.S.-Russian/Soviet relations and places them in the context of the complex and dynamic regional strategic, political, and economic processes that have fashioned the American relationship with Russia. This is done through a chronology, a bibliography, an introductory essay, and several hundred cross-referenced dictionary entries on key persons, places, events, institutions, and organizations.




Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy since the Cold War


Book Description

The post-Cold War diplomacy of the United States evolved in stages that reflected changes in the international system. Through the 1990s, the nation's foreign affairs were marked by an evolution away from the post-World War II focus on security and superpower competition to a more multifaceted and nuanced series of policies that included economic concerns, social and cultural issues, and environmental matters. However, an escalating series of terrorist attacks that culminated in the 11 September 2001 strikes on New York and Washington, D.C. led to the reemergence of security as the main foreign policy issue for the United States. The subsequent American-led 'war on terror' mirrored the Cold War in its goals, and the administration of President George W. Bush endeavored to build a multinational counterterrorism coalition that paralleled the Western alliance of the bipolar era. The Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy Since the Cold War is a concise overview of the main figures, conflicts, events, and policies of the United States in the post-Cold War era. The study explores the main elements of U.S. foreign policy and the regional and international reaction to American policies from the presidency of George H. W. Bush to that of George W. Bush. Through its entries, the book analyzes the underlying themes of U.S. diplomacy and the new policies formulated and implemented in response to broad changes in global politics. The book includes a chronology of events from 1991 to 2007, an introduction that highlights important themes of the era, cross-referenced entries on significant topics, a detailed bibliography, and appendixes of major documents. The work is ideal for both public and academic libraries, the general public, or the specialist looking for a reference tool in this area.




Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy


Book Description

The conduct of the foreign relations of the Russian state in its several contexts—Kiev Rus, Muscovy, Russian Empire, Provisional Government, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and Russian Federation—were unique in its common currents from the beginning to the present. Geography was certainly a key factor, located in the center of the world's largest land mass and surrounded by often hostile forces. “All of the Russias” had to confront the problems of open frontiers and the conduct of relations with a number of adjacent states of different ethnicity, and with many that were more distant. No other nation states had to face such complex and divergent circumstances over their histories. Most other Great Powers were neighbors of similar states in culture and historical background, whereas Russia had to deal with Asian, as well as European countries. The Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy covers the history through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 700 cross-referenced entries on important individuals, events, and other aspects of the foreign policy of this important country. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Russian foreign policy.




Historical Dictionary of El Salvador


Book Description

El Salvador might be the smallest country in Central America by territory but it has had a significant impact on the region and played an important role in U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America. The country’s history is intertwined with the struggles for self-determination and sovereignty both from Spanish colonial domination and after independence from the rule of foreign caudillos and its stronger neighbors, such as Mexico and Guatemala. The country had an important role in United States policies toward Latin America during the Cold War. The Historical Dictionary of El Salvador contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 200 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about El Salvador.