A World of Nations

The purpose of this comprehensive survey of the history of international relations since 1945 is twofold: firstly, to provide an analytical narrative (based on secondary studies exploiting newly available sources from the former Communist states) of the origins, evolution and end of the Cold War; and secondly to trace the development of regional conflicts - ethnic, religious, cultural, economic and military - throughout the world that have been unrelated to the global rivalry between the two superpowers. Its underlying theme is the continuation of inter-state conflicts in the era of globalization, despite the emergence of transnational actors and the widespread predictions of the demise of the nation state.