Cold War's Killing Fields: Rethinking the Long Peace

A brilliant young historian offers a comprehensive international military history of the Cold War, revealing how bloody the Long Peace actually was. He argues that the Cold War was a part of a vast, deadly conflict that killed millions on battlegrounds across the postcolonial world, and provides a moving portrait of human suffering.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 656 pages
Publication date: 05 September 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

In this comprehensive and insightful book, Paul Thomas Chamberlin presents a vital and comprehensive international military history of the Cold War, placing it among the three great conflicts of the twentieth century alongside the two World Wars. He sheds light on the decade-long superpower struggles, revealing the bloodiness and intensity of the Long Peace.

The Cold War, traditionally perceived as a largely peaceful and diplomatic standoff between democracy and communism, is, in reality, a part of a vast and deadly conflict that claimed millions of lives on battlegrounds across the postcolonial world. For half a century, Europe remained under the shadow of an uneasy peace, while fierce proxy wars raged in the Cold Wars killing fields, resulting in over fourteen million deaths. These victims, who remain largely forgotten and lost to history, deserve to be remembered and honored.

The Cold Wars Killing Fields is a groundbreaking work of scholarship, enriched with four maps, providing a comprehensive global military history of this superpower conflict. It is the first full accounting of the devastating impact of the wars of the post-1945 era, which ravaged civilians across vast territories, from Korea and Vietnam to Bangladesh and Afghanistan to Iraq and Lebanon. Chamberlin offers a unique perspective on this sweeping history, grounding it in the experiences of those who lived through the brutal warfare.

Through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Chamberlin reframes the era in global history and delves into the numerous battles fought to prevent nuclear war, bolster the strategic hegemony of the United States and the Soviet Union, and shape the fate of societies throughout the Third World. He sheds light on the strategies, tactics, and human cost of these conflicts, offering a deeper understanding of the complexities and consequences of the Cold War era.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, international relations, and the profound impact of armed conflicts on human lives. It is a testament to the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit and a reminder of the importance of seeking truth and justice in the face of adversity.

Weight: 502g
Dimension: 134 x 203 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780062367211