
Grand Improvisation
Description
A new understanding of the post World War II era, showing what occurred when the British Empire wouldn't step aside for the rising American superpower-with global insights for today.
An enduring myth of the twentieth century is that the United States rapidly became a superpower in the years after World War II, when the British Empire-the greatest in history-was too wounded to maintain a global presence. In fact, Derek Leebaert argues in Grand Improvisation, the idea that a traditionally insular United States suddenly transformed itself into the leader of the free world is illusory, as is the notion that the British colossus was compelled to retreat. The United States and the U.K. had a dozen abrasive years until Washington issued a "declaration of independence" from British influence. Only then did America explicitly assume leadership of the world order just taking shape.
Leebaert's character-driven narrative shows such figures as Churchill, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennan in an entirely new light, while unveiling players of at least equal weight on pivotal events. Little unfolded as historians believe: the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan; the Korean War; America's descent into Vietnam. Instead, we see nonstop U.S. improvisation until America finally lost all caution and embraced obligations worldwide, a burden we bear today.
Understanding all of this properly is vital to understanding the rise and fall of superpowers, why we're now skeptical of commitments overseas, how the Middle East plunged into disorder, why Europe is fracturing, what China intends-and the ongoing perils to the U.S. world role.
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CONTENTS
Introduction 3
I: THEY THOUGHT IT WAS PEACE
1. The Three in 1945 11
2. Keynes & Co. 33
3. Entering the Middle East 56
4. False Starts 79
II: A CHILLING WORLD
5. Warfare States 111
6. Year of the Offensive 137
7. Defending the West 161
8. The Outer Fortress: Protecting the Middle East, Africa, and Asia 188
III: CHIPS ON THE TABLE
9. Auditing an Empire 213
10. Pivoting to Asia and into Vietnam 235
11. War on the Rim 256
12. Asia's Three Fighting Fronts 280
IV: THE GROUND CHANGES
13. "Holding the Ring" in Iran and Egypt 305
14. Churchill Is Back 328
15. Stemming the Tide 352
16. Coronations and Crises 374
V: A NEW SUPREMACY
17. The Break Points of 1954 401
18. Ordering Chaos 426
19. No End of a Lesson 451
20. What Happened Next 480
Conclusion 505
NOTES 517
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 583
INDEX 587