Remaking the World: Decolonization and the Cold War

Between 1945 and 1965, over fifty nations declared their independence from colonial rule, which complicated US-Soviet relations and transformed the decolonizing process. Remaking the World examines the connections between the Cold War and decolonization, providing a chronological overview from World War I to the Soviet collapse. Six case studies analyze the shifting policies of Soviet, American, Chinese, and Cuban governments, the role of modernization, the United Nations, regional actors, and post-Vietnam War shifts in the international system.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 316 pages
Publication date: 25 July 2023
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

Between 1945 and 1965, a remarkable wave of independence swept across more than fifty nations, as they broke free from the colonial shackles that had held them for centuries. This global process of decolonization, which took place during the height of the Cold War, not only complicated US-Soviet relations but also had a profound impact on the decolonizing nations themselves. Soviet and American interventionism played a significant role in shaping the course of decolonization, as both superpowers sought to influence the outcomes of these struggles for political and economic gain.

Remaking the World delves into the intricate connections between the Cold War and decolonization, exploring how these two historical phenomena helped shape the post-World War II global order. This comprehensive study, drawing on new scholarship, provides a chronological overview from World War I to the Soviet collapse, highlighting key developments in the international system as decolonization unfolded in tandem with the Cold War.

To examine these connections in greater detail, the book employs six carefully selected case studies. These case studies cover a range of regions and countries, including India, Egypt, the Congo, Vietnam, Angola, and Iran. Through these case studies, historian Jessica M. Chapman addresses a wide range of topics, including the shifting policies of the Soviet Union, the United States, China, and Cuba; the centrality of modernization; the role of the United Nations; the often-overlooked influence of regional actors like Israel and South Africa; and the seminal post-Vietnam War shifts in the international system.

Each of the case studies analyzes at least one geopolitical turning point, demonstrating how the Cold War and decolonization were mutually constitutive processes. Local, national, and regional developments altered the superpower competition, leading to new alliances and rivalries. Chapman presents a nuanced picture of the complexities of international relations, highlighting how local communist and democratic movements differed from their Soviet and American ties. She also explores the different visions for independence and success that these movements held, as well as the challenges they faced in achieving their goals.

Remaking the World is a valuable contribution to the study of history and international relations. It sheds light on the complex web of factors that shaped the post-World War II world, and it provides a fresh perspective on the ways in which the Cold War and decolonization intertwined to shape the modern world. This book will be of interest to students, scholars, and anyone interested in understanding the history of the Cold War and the global struggle for independence.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813197623