The Long Détente
Changing Concepts of Security and Cooperation in Europe, 1950s–1980s
Poul Villaume editor Oliver Bange editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Central European University Press
Published:10th Feb '17
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book presents pieces of evidence, which - taken together - lead to an argument that goes against the grain of the established Cold War narrative. The argument is that a "long detente" existed between East and West from the 1950s to the 1980s, that it existed and lasted for good (economic, national security, societal) reasons, and that it had a profound impact on the outcome of the conflict between East and West and the quintessentially peaceful framework in which this "endgame" was played. By offering new, Euro-centered narratives that include both West and East European perspectives, the contributions of this volume point to critical inconsistencies and inherent problems in the traditional U.S. dominated narrative of the "Victory in the Cold War." Yet rather than replacing this narrative, the argument of a "long detente" demonstrates that this can and needs to be augmented with the plentitude of European experiences and perceptions.After all, it was Europe - its peoples, societies, and states - that stood both at the ideological and military frontline of the conflict between East and West, and it was here that the struggle between liberalism and communism was eventually decided.
"The volume offers a corrective via a Eurocentric narrative that examines economic and political overtures dating to the early 1950s between European countries and the Eastern bloc. Chapters dealing with these matters are well researched and offer insight into episodes (like the Moscow International Economic Conference) that are little studied. As a volume on European diplomacy from the 1950s to the 1980s it is a fine contribution to the literature." * Choice *
"Oliver Bange und Poul Villaume wollen zusammen mit anderen Autorinnen und Autoren ihres Sammelbandes das Bild des Ost-West-Konflikts nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg grundlegend verändern. Weit länger als nach bisheriger Ansicht habe Entspannung – die „antagonistische Zusammenarbeit“ zwischen den beiden ideologischen und gesellschaftlichen Lagern und das Bemühen um eine kooperative Form des Wettstreits – das Verhältnis bestimmt. Zudem sei der 'Kalte Krieg' – verstanden als 'politischer, wirtschaftlicher und kommunikativer Autismus' sowie als Konfrontation unter Einsatz auch wirtschaftlicher und militärischer Potenziale – weniger dauerhaft und wichtig gewesen als bisher behauptet. Beides habe schon immer parallel zueinander in einem je nach Zeit und Akteur unterschiedlichen Ausmaß existiert. Insgesamt bietet der Band dem kritischen und sachkundigen Leser eine Fülle wichtiger Informationen und Erklärungen zu zentralen Fragen des Ost-West-Konflikts nach Stalins Tod, der Entwicklung des militärischen Kräfteverhältnisses zwischen NATO und Warschauer Pakt in der Spätphase." * Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas *
"Poul Villaume er en engasjert kritiker av den supermakts- og amerikansk-dominerte fremstillingen av den kalde krigen. Han mener den har gjort détente til 'something of a swearword and even, as it seems, a taboo topic in international and especially Anglo-American mainstream historiography of the Cold War... At worst, détente and with it an influential era of that momentous conflict between societal systems is hardly mentioned at all.' Villaume og Bange knytter det de finner er en systematisk neglisjering av detente, til triumfalistenes fortolkning av slutten på den kalde krigen. Bange og Villaume påpeker at dersom détente neglisjeres eller defineres ut av historien, gir det ikke mening å snakke om den andre kalde krigen. De følger opp med å spørre om hvordan det kunne ha seg, dersom détente brøt sammen på slutten av 1970-tallet og ble erstat-tet av en ny kald krig, at konfliktene mellom supennaktblokkene ledet til fredelig avslutning på konfliktene bare få år senere." -- Helge Pharo * Historisk Tidsskrift *
ISBN: 9789633861271
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 630g
370 pages