Now in its fifth edition, Origins of the Cold War 1941-1949 covers the formative years of the momentous struggle that developed between two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union.

This accessible text explains how the Cold War originated and developed between 1941 and 1949 and involved the entire globe, with proxy wars being fought much to the detriment of the developing world. The fifth edition is revised, updated and expanded to include new material on topics such as the efforts of the Soviet Union, the UK and France to prevent the outbreak of World War II; the reasons behind the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact; atomic diplomacy and the role played by Soviet spies in the West; the culture wars and propaganda; Churchill's efforts to entice the US into the war against Germany; the role of Hollywood in promoting intervention; the US's insouciance concerning the danger of a Japanese attack; the astonishing success of the Soviet Union in recruiting high level American officials to provide invaluable information on politics, science, engineering and avionics; and more. Incorporating the most recent scholarship, Martin McCauley provides students with an invaluable introduction to a fascinating period that shaped today's world.

The book is an important staple for courses on modern global history and international affairs.

About the Author

Martin McCauley is a prolific author and broadcaster who has had a wealth of experience in Russian and international affairs. He taught at the University of London for over 30 years, and his recent publications include Stalin and Stalinism 3rd edition (2018) and The Cold War 1949-2016 (2017).

Reviews

Praise for the 4th edition:

"Martin McCauley delivers the masterful review of the origins of the Cold War you would expect from such a fine historian. For students with or without a previous knowledge of the international history of these tumultuous years this is a very suitable text and the inclusion of documents is a reflection of how history of this period should be taught. This is a very nicely framed piece of scholarship."

Martin Thornton, University of Leeds, UK

"Martin McCauley's Origins of the Cold War, 1941-1949 is an excellent choice for those embarking on study of this complex period of international history. The inclusion of an excellent selection of source material and useful introductions to key concepts and characters make this an excellent book for those new to this topic. Its contents should spark stimulating seminar discussions, and would be of great use to those taking A-Levels on modern history, and introductory undergraduate courses on the Cold War."

Mark Hurst, University of Kent, UK

Book Information
ISBN 9780367858360
Author Martin McCauley
Format Paperback
Page Count 282
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 500g