The Cold War in Europe

by Charles S. Maier

"Now that the Cold War is over, this book is especially timely: it analyzes and summarizes the events that ushered in an epoch of history nearly fifty years ago, and provides an analysis of the forces that were suppressed or strengthened during the Cold War - and some of which are now unleashed again." "Professor Maier begins his book by discussing the different interpretations of the Cold War among leading commentators. A selection of the most important essays on the origins of the Cold War by well-known politicians and scholars provides the critical spectrum of the debate on the acceleration of the Cold War." "These contributors investigate the events that led to a division of Europe into spheres of influence on both a global and regional basis. The roles of the giants of history, such as Churchill, Stalin, and Truman, as well as those of local leaders, are illuminated in these essays. Special emphasis is placed on the political economy of the Cold War, the Marshall Plan, the conditi