Hungary in the Cold War, 1945-1956: Between the United States and the Soviet Union

The book examines Soviet Empire building in Hungary and the American response, finding that Hungary was not important enough to resist the Soviets, its democratic opposition failed to win American sympathy, and the US had no leverage over the Soviets. The imposition of a Stalinist regime assured Hungary's unconditional loyalty to Soviet imperial needs, and Eastern Europe was never considered a bargaining chip for bettering relations with the West. Both powers pursued power politics, with the Soviets in a naked form and the US subtly.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 370 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Central European University Press

Based on new archival evidence, examines Soviet Empire building in Hungary and the American response to it. Hungary was not important enough to resist the Soviets, its democratic opposition failed to win American sympathy, the US simply had no leverage over the Soviets, who sacrificed cooperation with the West for a closed sphere in Eastern Europe. The imposition of a Stalinist regime assured Hungary's unconditional loyalty to Soviet imperial needs. Unlike the GDR, Eastern Europe was never considered a bargaining chip for bettering relations with the West. The book analyzes why, given all its idealism and power, the US failed even in its minimal aims concerning the states of Eastern Europe. Eventually both powers pursued power politics: the Soviets in a naked form, the US subtly, but both with little regard for the fate of Hungarians.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 153 x 231 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789633861400