Beginnings of the Cold War Arms Race: The Truman Administration and the U.S. Arms Build-Up

(Hardback)

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Description

The Truman administration's decision to embark on an arms build-up in 1950 was a critical event. For the first time other than a World War, the United States became a global military presence. Unlike the World Wars, in this instance the deployment lasted decades, altering the nature of the Cold War and the United States' global role. Such a decision deserves a book dedicated to understanding the strategy and politics behind it. The Beginnings of the Cold War Arms Race serves that purpose. The Beginnings of the Cold War Arms Race reviews the state of American military affairs in the late 1940s and describes the role of atomic power in American strategy. It also outlines the factional fighting within the Truman administration over military spending and deployments and considers the Truman administration's perceptions of Soviet military power and intentions. The author presents a fascinating account of the strategy and politics behind the Truman administration's decision to engage in a massive arms build-up that initiated the Cold War arms race.

Reviews

"Ojserkis provides a useful, well-written study of a complicated and difficult topic, and does so in 150 pages. Although much of the material is not new, the volume ably synthesizes a great deal of information that will be of use to undergraduates, graduate students, and established scholars."-Project Muse
Ojserkis provides a useful, well-written study of a complicated and difficult topic, and does so in 150 pages. Although much of the material is not new, the volume ably synthesizes a great deal of information that will be of use to undergraduates, graduate students, and established scholars.-Project Muse
[T]his book provides a clear interpretation of a series of decisions that regularly receive only limited attention in analyses of Truman's presidency or the Cold War.-49th Parallel
In this thoughtful, well-researched monograph, Ojserkis broadens the debate over the international, economic, and political consequences of the post-1945 Cold War conflict between the US and the Soviet Union....Highly recommended. Most levels and collections.-Choice
This is a chronological study close to official history, but it is well argued nonetheless. Truman would be pleased.-The Journal of American History
"This book provides a clear interpretation of a series of decisions that regularly receive only limited attention in analyses of Truman's presidency or the Cold War."-49th Parallel
"[T]his book provides a clear interpretation of a series of decisions that regularly receive only limited attention in analyses of Truman's presidency or the Cold War."-49th Parallel
"This is a chronological study close to official history, but it is well argued nonetheless. Truman would be pleased."-The Journal of American History
"In this thoughtful, well-researched monograph, Ojserkis broadens the debate over the international, economic, and political consequences of the post-1945 Cold War conflict between the US and the Soviet Union....Highly recommended. Most levels and collections."-Choice

Author Bio

RAYMOND P. OJSERKIS received a D.Phil. in International History from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He lives in New York City.