Superpowers in the post-Cold War era / Ken Aldred and Martin A. Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Aldred, Ken, 1937-

Contributor:

Smith, Martin A., 1965-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World politics--1989-.

World politics.

United States--Foreign relations--1989-.

United States.

International relations.

Great powers.

Physical Description:

x, 205 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hamphshire : Macmillan Press ; New York : St. Martin's Press, 1999.

Summary:

This book explores the question of where, and with whom, power lies in the post-Cold War world. The authors identify and discuss the factors which make the United States the world leader in the 1990s, and consider the strengths and weaknesses of countries which may be on the way to becoming leaders in Europe (Russia and the European Union) and Asia (Japan and China). The authors' main argument is that the world is becoming "unitripolar" with the United States as its pivotal, though not fully hegemonic, power.

Contents:

1 Power 1

Power in Pre-Cold War History 7

Co-operation and Management by Leading Powers 14

2 The Two Cold War Superpowers 18

The Superpower Concept 18

American Power and Influence in the Cold War Years 20

Soviet Power, Decline and Collapse in the Cold War Years 31

Superpower Co-operation in the Cold War Years 46

3 The United States: Cajoler or Controller? 50

American Power Resources and Policy 50

The United States in the World since 1989 69

The United States in a Unitripolar World 95

4 Succeeding the Soviet Union 97

Russia 'In Itself' and Its Foreign Policy Priorities 97

Russia and the Former Soviet Republics 107

Russia in the Wider Global Context 119

Russian Power in the Post-Soviet Era 131

5 What Next for Europe? 133

Western Europe as a 'Civilian Power' 133

Western Europe's Corporate Personality 143

The European Union's Security Void 148

Western Europe's Confidence and the United States 152

European Power since 1989 163

6 Has the Winner Taken All? 165

Superpower 165

The United States as Hegemon? 171

A Unitripolar World 173

Winner Takes All? Power and Superpower after the Cold War 176.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 181-202) and index.

ISBN:

0312222629

OCLC:

40683391