Description
Book SynopsisTalks about the watershed year of 1948, when the United States reversed its position of political and military isolation from Europe and agreed to an entangling alliance with ten European nations. This book traces the tortuous and dramatic process, which struggled to reconcile the conflicting concerns on the part of the future partners.
Trade ReviewKaplan starts with the worsening of relations between the Soviet Union and the Western nations, and follows the twists and turns in the difficult negotiations that led to a treaty marking a radical change in US foreign policy. . . . Highly recommended. * CHOICE *
This meticulously researched and well-written analysis builds on Kaplan's extensive earlier research on NATO's importance in the Cold War. . . . Its richly detailed analysis makes a significant contribution to the historical record. This judicious appraisal will be of interest to students of diplomatic history and international relations alike. -- Meena Bose, Hofstra University * Journal of American History *
Larry Kaplan’s book brings back to life the unique period in 1948–1949 that witnessed the birth of America’s first 'entangling alliance.' His is an exceptionally lively, richly documented, and always enthralling study of the events that led to the greatest transformation of American diplomacy, of the men who made it happen, and of the challenges they had to overcome. -- Pierre Melandri, Sciences Po
Lawrence Kaplan, a foremost specialist in the history of NATO, has written an insightful account of its birth. The relationship between the United States and Europe has suffered in recent years, making this book an especially timely reminder to a wider readership of just how much effort the past generation put into making the North Atlantic Alliance a reality in the aftermath of the Second World War. Elegantly written and cogent, the book should be read by all students of NATO, European affairs, and U.S. foreign policy on both sides of the Atlantic. -- Saki R. Dockrill, King's College London
There is no better team than Lawrence Kaplan together with Morris Honick to recall the events that led to the creation of the West’s chief Cold War instrument in opposing the Soviet Union. It is easy, in these post–Cold War days, not to acknowledge the difficulties that surrounded the creation of the international political-military institutions that are still in use today. Although constantly adapting to a changing international political environment, their basic functions of reinforcing common interests and denying 'divide and conquer' opportunities to actual or potential enemies, are still with us. It is also easy to forget the extreme reluctance on the American side to become 'entangled' in matters of European defense. For these reasons the detailed exposition of the debates and related considerations that underlay the formation of an anti-Soviet 'West' is a welcome addition to the extensive literature, most of it out of necessity based on secondary sources, that chronicles this vital period of our history. -- Robert S. Jordan, University of New Orleans
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction: The Isolationist Tradition, 1800–1947 Chapter 2: The "Speech": January 22, 1948 Chapter 3: The Brussels Pact: March 17, 1948 Chapter 4: The Vandenberg Resolution: June 11, 1948 Chapter 5: The "Exploratory" Talks: July–September 1948 Chapter 6: The Western Union Defense Organization: 1948–1949 Chapter 7: The Hiatus: September–December 1948 Chapter 8: The Treaty of Washington: April 4, 1949 Chapter 9: In Retrospect: The Relevance of NATO Today (or in the Post–Cold War Era)
