Understanding the Cold War : a historian's personal reflections
"Understanding the Cold War: A Historian's Personal Reflections" is a memoir by Adam B. Ulam, a renowned historian and political scientist. Born in Lwów, Poland, Ulam emigrated to the United States in 1939, just before the Nazi invasion. He pursued his education at Brown University and Harvard University, eventually becoming a professor at Harvard. In this work, Ulam intertwines his personal history with an analytical assessment of the Cold War's origins, significant events, and outcomes. He offers insights into Soviet affairs, discussing topics such as the Kirov assassination, the Moscow Trials, and the nationalist disputes between China and Russia during the Vietnam War period. Ulam emphasizes empirical evidence over sensationalism, providing a nuanced understanding of the era. The book also reflects on the transition from communism to democracy during the Gorbachev interregnum, highlighting the complexities of this political shift. Stephen Kotkin, director of Princeton's Russian Studies Program, praised Ulam's work, noting his ability to highlight the intricacy and comprehensiveness of Marxism, which explained its appeal to both peasants and intellectuals
Print Book, English, 2001
2nd, expanded ed.
Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.A., 2001