Jeremi Suri

Qiang Zhai

Svetlana Savranskaya

William Glenn Gray

Ruud Van Dijk

Between 1945 and 1991, tension between the USA, its allies, and a group of nations led by the USSR, dominated world politics. This period was called the Cold War – a conflict that stopped short to a full-blown war. Benefiting from the recent research of newly open archives, the Encyclopedia of the Cold War discusses how this state of perpetual tensions arose, developed, and was resolved. This work examines the military, economic, diplomatic, and political evolution of the conflict as well as its impact on the different regions and cultures of the world. Using a unique geopolitical approach that will present Russian perspectives and others, the work covers all aspects of the Cold War, from communism to nuclear escalation and from UFOs to red diaper babies, highlighting its vast-ranging and lasting impact on international relations as well as on daily life. Although the work will focus on the 1945–1991 period, it will explore the roots of the conflict, starting with the formation of the Soviet state, and its legacy to the present day.

Encyclopedia of the Cold War

Ruud van Dijk

The Johnson administration's escalation of the war in Vietnam in 1965 triggered strong domestic criticism. Responding to public pressure, President Johnson made a number of peace overtures to North Vietnam. The escalating conflict in Indochina also drew serious attention around the world. Efforts were made by various countries to promote a peaceful solution to the Indochina conflict. Thus, the war in Vietnam was intertwined with a series of peac initiatives made not only by Washington but also by Moscow, London, Paris, and a number of British commonwealth capitals. How did leaders in Beijing perceive these initiatives? Why were they so consistent and firm in opposing them? What were the repercussions of China's policy in the world? This paper uses newly released Chinese sources to answer these questions. It argues that China's opposition to Vietnam peace talks was linked to Mao's complex calculations of establishing Beijing's leadership position within the Third World national liberation movement, limiting Soviet influence in Indochina, and mobilizing domestic support for his social and political programs.

Qiang Zhai

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