The Diplomats 1939-1979 (Princeton Legacy Library)

About this book

This volume offers a unique perspective on a turbulent and dangerous age by focusing on the activities and accomplishments of its diplomats. Its twenty-three interconnected essays discuss the policies of ambassadors foreign ministers and heads of state from Acheson and Adenauer to Sadat and Gromyko as well as the special problems of the professionals in the foreign offices and the role of the media in modern diplomacy. Among its contributors are such distinguished international scholars as Akira Iriye Michael Brecher Stanley Hoffmann W. W. Rostow and Norman Stone. Expanding the field of inquiry covered by its acclaimed predecessor The Diplomats 1919-1939 which concentrated on Europe and the coming of the Second World War these essays showcase the major diplomatic practitioners of the period against the broader background of the problems and crises that confronted them--among others the Polish question at the end of World War II the onset of the Cold War the defeat of EDC in 1954 the Suez crisis Khrushchevs Berlin note in 1958 the Middle East War of 1967 and the oil shock of 1973 the Iranian revolution and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. This account of the pendular swing from crisis to detente and back again is given a global perspective by careful treatment of the diplomacy of new nations like India Communist China and Israel and of the transformation of the Middle East and Japan. Among the new perspectives offered here are Geoffrey Warners critical view of Ernest Bevins attitude toward the United States John Lewis Gaddiss judgment of Henry Kissingers detente policy W. W. Rostows analysis of the diplomatic method of Paul Monnet Rena Fonsecas assessment of Nehrus policy of nonalignment Shu Guang Zhangs fresh look at the relationship between Zhou Enlai and Mao and Paul Gordon Laurens critique of U.N. crisis management from Trygve Lie to Perez de Cuellar. Highly original also are Steven Miners portrait of Molotov Michael Brechers pioneering study of the diplomacy of Abba Eben and James McAdamss analysis of German Ostpolitik.