What were the origins of the Cold War? What policies fueled it? Why did the Cold War perpetuate the nuclear arms race? How did it end? Who "won" the Cold War and why does it matter? The significance of the debate surrounding the answers to these questions makes for fascinating reading as it sheds light on the late 20th century--and its aftermath -- America and the Cold War, 1941-1991: A Realist Interpretation is a sweeping historical account that focuses on the policy differences at the center of this conflict. In its pages, three preeminent authors offer an examination of contemporary criticism of the Cold War, documenting the views of observers who appreciated that many policies of the period were not only dangerous, but could not resolve the very problems they contemplated. -- The study offers a comprehensive chronicle of U.S. Soviet relations from World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union. It places the origins of the Cold War as related to the contentious issues of World War II and stresses the failure of Washington to understand or seriously seek settlement of those issues. It points out how nuclear weaponry gradually assumed political stature and came to dominate high-level, Soviet-American diplomatic activity, at the same time discounting the nation that the Cold War was a global ideological confrontation for the future of civilization. A concluding chapter draws lessons from the Cold War decades, showing how they apply to dealing with nation-states and terrorist groups today. --Book jacket.

v. 1. Introduction -- The Grand Alliance -- The road to Yalta -- A troubled world at peace, 1945 -- End of the Grand Alliance -- The stabilization of Europe -- The Cold War in East Asia -- The national security state -- High tide : the Eisenhower years -- The Kennedy years -- v. 2. The Cold War at mid-1960s : the Johnson years -- Watershed : the war in Vietnam -- The search for détente: Nixon, Kissinger, and Ford -- The Carter years -- Rise and fall of the second Cold War : Reagan and Gorbachev -- The final days of the Cold War -- Reflections.