Customer Reviews

The Cold War and Its Origins (2 Volumes)

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I'd like to get back with this book which I bought and greatly enjoyed and learned a lot from soon after its publication - UK publication at a guess 1962 or 1963. All serious students of foreign affairs (at least) should visit or re-visit this early breakthrough book in pointing out US (and, a bit UK, but that's not Fleming's target) contribution to the Cold War. Fleming as a soft Leftie is very gullible about alleged lack of commitment to expansionism on the part of Stalin etc 1945/6 to 1950. Nonetheless, he points, as I recall, to objective factors limiting Soviet power at the time. Many of its theses have been developed and expanded (eg only today 30.iii.02 did I learn from Stromberg or Raimondo that there are Rightwing critics of US action in Korea 1950 June 25 - hitherto I had thought that it was only extreme Lefts who recognized Syngman Rhee's aggressive policies) - but the book is worth reading in itself, as well as a guide to the ideological position 1959-62 - an important period in the expansion of US imperialism. Come back when I have retraced my steps. (link also to Betty Friedan who denounces - Feminine Mystique, copy not to hand - US childrearing because US troops were not as anti-communist as Turkish...!)
Ben Cosin