Melting the Ice Curtain : the extraordinary story of citizen diplomacy on the Russia-Alaska frontier / David Ramseur.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ramseur, David, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Friendship--Political aspects.

History.

Friendship.

Political participation.

Diplomacy.

Boundaries.

Relations.

Alaska--Relations--Soviet Union.

Alaska.

Soviet Union--Relations--Alaska.

Soviet Union.

Alaska--Boundaries--Soviet Union.

Soviet Union--Boundaries--Alaska.

Alaska--History--1959-.

Diplomacy--History--20th century.

Political participation--History--20th century.

Friendship--Political aspects--History--20th century.

Soviet Union--Foreign relations--1985-1991.

International relations.

United States--Foreign relations--1981-1989.

United States.

Physical Description:

xv, 307 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Fairbanks, AK : University of Alaska Press, [2017]

Summary:

"Just five years after a Soviet missile blew a civilian airliner out of the sky over the North Pacific, an Alaska Airlines jet braved Cold War tensions to fly into tomorrow. Crossing the Bering Strait between Alaska and the Russian Far East, the 1988 Friendship Flight reunited Native peoples of common languages and cultures for the first time in four decades. It and other dramatic efforts to thaw what was known as the Ice Curtain launched a thirty-year era of perilous, yet prolific, progress. Melting the Ice Curtain tells the story of how inspiration, courage, and persistence by citizen-diplomats bridged a widening gap in superpower relations. David Ramseur was a first-hand witness to the danger and political intrigue, having flown on that first Friendship Flight, and having spent thirty years behind the scenes with some of Alaska's highest officials. As Alaska celebrates the 150th anniversary of its purchase, and as diplomatic ties with Russia become perilous, Melting the Ice Curtain shows that history might hold the best lessons for restoring diplomacy between nuclear neighbors; 'We are now at another critical turning point in our history. Melting the Ice Curtain tells a compelling story of the success of grassroots citizen diplomacy and details lessons for today's perilously poor relations between the world's superpowers. Ramseur is one of Alaska's experts on this topic and he offers valuable insights on how we may turn our challenges into opportunities'--Russell J. Handy, Lieutenant General, USAF, Retired Commander, Alaskan Command"--Publisher description.

Contents:

Maps

Prologue

A call to arms

Extending hands of friendship

A Juneau peacenik in the Kremlin

Swimming against the current

Historic flight approved

Friendship flight to tomorrow

Dramatic reversal

Soviets return the favor

Breaking the ice

Adventure diplomacy across the Strait

Deception on Diomede

From Uelen to Vladivostok

Visa-free reunification

Golden Samovar Service

Open for business

Beyond the coup

University of Alaska teaches Capitalism 101

Oil in Sakhalin, flush toilets in Chukotka

The thrill is gone

Mercy mission to Magadan

Always keep talking

Detained in the Bering Strait

A special Alaska-Russia affinity

Appendix.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Ramseur, David. Melting the Ice Curtain.

ISBN:

9781602233348

1602233349

OCLC:

974566913