The Korean War in World History [Hardcover]

William Stueck (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 14, 2004

" The Korean War in World History features the accomplishments of noted scholars over the last decade and lays the groundwork for the next generation of scholarship. These essays present the latest thinking on the Korean War, focusing on the relationship of one country to the war. William Stueck's introduction and conclusion link each essay to the rich historiography of the event and suggest the war's place within the history of the twentieth century. The Korean War had two very different faces. On one level the conflict was local, growing out of the internal conditions of Korea and fought almost entirely within the confines of a small Asian country located far from Europe. The fighting pitted Korean against Korean in a struggle to determine the balance of political power within the country. Yet the war had a huge impact on the international politics of the Cold War. Combat threatened to extend well beyond the peninsula, potentially igniting another global conflagration and leaving in its wake a much escalated arms race between the Western and Eastern blocs. The dynamics of that division remain today, threatening international peace and security in the twenty-first century. Contributors: Lloyd Gardner, Chen Jian, Allan R. Millett, Michael Schaller, and Kathryn Weathersby

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Well-written and should interest anyone with a desire to know more about America's 'Forgotten War.'" -- Air Power History

"A useful guide for scholars, teachers, and students. It shows how far we have come in our knowledge of this once-forgotten war, and it opens the path for new work on the subject that goes beyond the residual scholarly divides of the Cold War." -- American Historical Review

"Stueck has joined with five other historians, each focusing on Korea's relationship to a different world power." -- Choice

"An important work that should be read by teachers interested in the conflict." -- Education about Asia

"The participating scholars are all first-rate, and their essays add much to our understanding of this conflict and its impact in East Asia." -- H-Net Reviews

"Stueck deserves praise for carefully editing the five essays in the anthology and for contributing an excellent synthetic introduction and provocative conclusion." -- Journal of American History

"Each essay is lively and vigorously argued." -- Journal of Military History

"Provides insights to the dynamics of the Korean War that are sometimes surprising, but always interesting." -- Military

"These writings shed considerable light on the conditions in Korea that led to the conflict, China's and Russia's reasons for supporting North Korean aggression, and why the United States reacted the way it did." -- Military Trader

About the Author

William Stueck, Distinguished Research Professor of History at the University of Georgia, is the author and editor of many books, including Rethinking the Korean War: A New Diplomatic and Strategic History.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (May 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813123062
• ISBN-13: 978-0813123066
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)