The Limits of Détente

The United States, the Soviet Union, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1969-1973

Craig Daigle author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Yale University Press

Published:30th Oct '12

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Limits of Détente cover

In the first book-length analysis of the origins of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Craig Daigle draws on documents only recently made available to show how the war resulted not only from tension and competing interest between Arabs and Israelis, but also from policies adopted in both Washington and Moscow.

Between 1969 and 1973, the Middle East in general and the Arab-Israeli conflict in particular emerged as a crucial Cold War battleground where the limits of détente appeared in sharp relief. By prioritizing Cold War détente rather than genuine stability in the Middle East, Daigle shows, the United States and the Soviet Union fueled regional instability that ultimately undermined the prospects of a lasting peace agreement. Daigle further argues that as détente increased tensions between Arabs and Israelis, these tensions in turn negatively affected U.S.–Soviet relations.

 “A must-read book for everyone interested in Soviet-American relations in the Middle East.”—Douglas Little, Clark University  

-- Douglas Little
"No one has done a better job than Craig Daigle to explain the origins of the October 1973 war. He skillfully draws on recently declassified documents to make a convincing case that U.S.-Soviet détente had the paradoxical consequence of raising the odds of war in the Middle East."—William B. Quandt, University of Virginia -- William B. Quandt
 "A perceptive and detailed account of the origins of the 1973 war, especially useful for the Soviet dimension."—Wm. Roger Louis, University of Texas at Austin -- Wm. Roger Louis
 “This is the first work to explore fully the impact of the super-power rivalry on the 1973 Middle East war. It provides a meticulous reading of newly declassified documents and a judicious analysis of international relations at the height of détente.”—Rashid Khalidi, Columbia University

-- Rashid Kha

ISBN: 9780300167139

Dimensions: 235mm x 156mm x 30mm

Weight: 771g

448 pages