East-West Tensions in the Third World

Within a few years after World War II, the confrontation between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. spilled over into the Third World. The frustrated ambition and accumulated animosity in the newly independent countries toward their former European rulers made them especially susceptible to Soviet provocation and blandishments. The military doctrines of "containment" and "massive retaliation" impelled the United States not only to resist Soviet penetration of these countries but also to seek military alliances and basing rights. In the decades that followed, both superpowers have become disillusioned with their experience in the Third World and most of the Third World has become disillusioned with the superpowers. Now many observers feel that this situation gives rise to hope for easing tensions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Still, the mixture of superpower interest and internal turmoil in the Third World remains volatile.The flash points- Afghanistan, Lebanon, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Angola- punctuate the news. This volume offers shrewd analyses of superpower competition in the Third World, and pragmatic assessments of policy options.