Human Rights Activism and the End of the Cold War
A Transnational History of the Helsinki Network
Published on 20. June 2011
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-1-107-00105-3 (ISBN)
Description
Two of the most pressing questions facing international historians today are how and why the Cold War ended. Human Rights Activism and the End of the Cold War explores how, in the aftermath of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, a transnational network of activists committed to human rights in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe made the topic a central element in East-West diplomacy. As a result, human rights eventually became an important element of Cold War diplomacy and a central component of detente. Sarah B. Snyder demonstrates how this network influenced both Western and Eastern governments to pursue policies that fostered the rise of organized dissent in Eastern Europe, freedom of movement for East Germans and improved human rights practices in the Soviet Union - all factors in the end of the Cold War.
Reviews / Votes
'... innovative conceptually and methodologically and makes an extremely important contribution to the study of international affairs during the 1970s and 1980s, including the ending of the Cold War.' Akira Iriye, Harvard University 'An important and engaging contribution to the growing literature on 'the Helsinki effect' - how non-binding agreements may in effect punch above their weight by effecting powerful changes to the contours of international politics.' Elizabeth Borgwardt, author of A New Deal for the World: America's Vision for Human Rights, 1941-1946 '... Sarah Snyder's well-researched study demonstrates the role played by the Helsinki Final Act in bringing democracy and respect for human rights to Eastern Europe.' International AffairsMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
10 Halftones, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
647 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-00105-3 (9781107001053)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Sarah B. Snyder
Human Rights Activism and the End of the Cold War
A Transnational History of the Helsinki Network
Book
06/2013
Cambridge University Press
€39.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
Sarah B. Snyder
Human Rights Activism and the End of the Cold War
A Transnational History of the Helsinki Network
E-Book
06/2011
Cambridge University Press
€21.99
Available for download
Sarah B. Snyder
Human Rights Activism and the End of the Cold War
A Transnational History of the Helsinki Network
E-Book
05/2011
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€26.49
Available for download
Person
Sarah B. Snyder is a Lecturer in International History at University College London. She has published a number of scholarly articles in journals such as Cold War History, Diplomacy and Statecraft, the Journal of Transatlantic Studies and the Journal of American Studies, as well as multiple book chapters. Dr Snyder specializes in transnational, international and diplomatic history.
Content
Introduction; 1. Bridging the East-West divide: the Helsinki Final Act negotiations; 2. 'A sort of lifeline': the Helsinki Commission; 3. Even in a Yakutian village: Helsinki monitoring in Moscow and beyond; 4. Follow-up at Belgrade: the United States transforms the Helsinki process; 5. Helsinki watch, the IHF, and the transnational campaign for human rights in Eastern Europe; 6. Human rights in East-West diplomacy; 7. 'A debate in the fox den about raising chickens': the Moscow conference proposal; 8. 'Perhaps without you, our revolution would not be'; Conclusion.