The World of the Cold War 1945-1991

The World of the Cold War: 1945–1991 is a sweeping, global history of the confrontation that shaped international politics after the Second World War. Historian Vladislav Zubok traces the Cold War from its origins in post-war Europe through decades of ideological rivalry, nuclear danger, proxy wars, diplomacy, decolonisation, détente, and the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Soviet Union. Rather than viewing the conflict only as a contest between the United States and the USSR, Zubok emphasises the role of countries and movements across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. He challenges the simplified idea that Western economic strength and democratic values alone “won” the Cold War, highlighting Soviet weaknesses, political choices, historical accidents, and the profound effects of global decolonisation. Published by Pelican in 2025, this 544-page history is an accessible but substantial guide to one of the defining conflicts of the modern era.