Captives of the Cold War Economy

Captives of the Cold War Economy PDF Author: John J. Accordino
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 0313000816
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
The end of the Cold War in 1989 gave rise to hopes for a new, more peaceful international system and for the redirection of military expenditures—over one-half of annual U.S. federal discretionary spending—toward education and health care, renewing the nation's infrastructure, environmental mitigation, and alternative energy sources. At the beginning of the 21st Century, U.S. military spending remains stuck at 85% of the Cold War average. Why? As Accordino explains, at the federal level, the Iron Triangle comprised of the Pentagon, defense contractors, and a conservative Congress maintained defense spending at Cold War levels, encouraging contractors to stay focused on defense. When some procurement cutbacks and base closures occurred, growth interests recruited lower-wage branch plants, sports, and entertainment facilities, rather than supporting the hard work of defense conversion that creates higher-paying jobs. Nevertheless, some defense contractors and community interests did embrace conversion, showing remarkable potential. Of particular interest to scholars and researchers involved with urban and regional planning, public administration and local politics, and regional economic development.

Captives of the Cold War Economy

Captives of the Cold War Economy PDF Author: John J. Accordino
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 0313000816
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
The end of the Cold War in 1989 gave rise to hopes for a new, more peaceful international system and for the redirection of military expenditures—over one-half of annual U.S. federal discretionary spending—toward education and health care, renewing the nation's infrastructure, environmental mitigation, and alternative energy sources. At the beginning of the 21st Century, U.S. military spending remains stuck at 85% of the Cold War average. Why? As Accordino explains, at the federal level, the Iron Triangle comprised of the Pentagon, defense contractors, and a conservative Congress maintained defense spending at Cold War levels, encouraging contractors to stay focused on defense. When some procurement cutbacks and base closures occurred, growth interests recruited lower-wage branch plants, sports, and entertainment facilities, rather than supporting the hard work of defense conversion that creates higher-paying jobs. Nevertheless, some defense contractors and community interests did embrace conversion, showing remarkable potential. Of particular interest to scholars and researchers involved with urban and regional planning, public administration and local politics, and regional economic development.

Butter and Guns

Butter and Guns PDF Author: Diane B. Kunz
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 440

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Book Description
In this masterful history of Cold War economics, Diane Kunz shows how America created its own prosperity through always shrewd and sometimes manipulative foreign policy.

Dismantling The Cold War Economy

Dismantling The Cold War Economy PDF Author: Ann R. Markusen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
For five decades the American economy has devoted some of its best resources to waging the Cold War. By the 1990s, this investment had not only made the United States the world's high-tech cop but had also successfully launched many new industries--computing, chip-based electronics, and satellite communications. But this military-based industrial policy has come at a high social and economic price, as the authors demonstrate in the first comprehensive reassessment of the military-industrial complex in twenty years. Based on extensive new data (much hitherto unpublished) and on interviews with defense industry executives, Pentagon officials, and community and union leaders, this book shows in disturbing detail how Cold War technologies have distorted and drained the economy. Military-led industrial policy has misfocused our research efforts, displaced more jobs than were created, and weakened our ability to compete effectively in world markets. The authors argue that a reversal in the long downward slide of the American economy will require a concerted effort at economic conversion. To counter the long-time military domination of science and technology development, they outline a national "needs-driven" science and technology policy to restore standards of living and industrial vitality. To overcome the "wall of separation" between military-industrial culture and the rest of American life, they propose an integrated economic development strategy designed to break addiction to Pentagon patronage. Here is a blunt and meticulously researched critique of the bitter economic fruits of the Cold War--and a plan for a cure.

Voice of the Silenced Peoples in the Global Cold War

Voice of the Silenced Peoples in the Global Cold War PDF Author: Anna Mazurkiewicz
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3110661004
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 463

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Book Description
According to its members, exiled political leaders from nine east European countries, the ACEN was an umbrella organization—a quasi-East European parliament in exile—composed of formerly prominent statesmen who strove to maintain the case of liberation of Eastern Europe from the Soviet yoke on the agenda of international relations. Founded by the Free Europe Committee, from 1954 to 1971 the ACEN tried to lobby for Eastern European interests on the U.S. political scene, in the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Furthermore, its activities can be traced to Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. However, since it was founded and sponsored by the Free Europe Committee (most commonly recognized as the sponsor of the Radio Free Europe), the ACEN operations were obviously influenced and monitored by the Americans (CIA, Department of State). This book argues that despite the émigré leadership's self-restraint in expressing criticism of the U.S. foreign policy, the ACEN was vulnerable to, and eventually fell victim of, the changes in the American Cold War policies. Notwithstanding the termination of Free Europe’s support, ACEN members reconstituted their operations in 1972 and continued their actions until 1989. Based on a through archival research (twenty different archives in the U.S. and Europe, interviews, published documents, memoirs, press) this book is a first complete story of an organization that is quite often mentioned in publications related to the operations of the Free Europe Committee but hardly ever thoroughly studied.

Cold War Captives

Cold War Captives PDF Author: Susan Lisa Carruthers
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520257308
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 351

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Book Description
Susan Carruthers offers a provocative history of early Cold War America, in which she recreates a time when World War III seemed imminent. She shows how central to American opinion at the time was a fascination with captivity & escape. Captivity became a way to understand everything.

Breaking Down Bipolarity

Breaking Down Bipolarity PDF Author: Martin Previšić
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3110655128
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 470

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Book Description
This book is aimed at presenting fresh views, interpretations, and reinterpretations of some already researched issues relating to the Yugoslav foreign policy and international relations up to year 1991. Yugoslavia positioned itself as a communist state that was not under the heel of the Soviet diplomacy and policy and as such was perceived by the West as an acceptable partner and useful tool in counteracting the Soviet influence.

The Cold War: a Very Short Introduction

The Cold War: a Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Robert J. McMahon
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0198859546
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 201

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Book Description
Vividly written and based on up-to-date scholarship, this title provides an interpretive overview of the international history of the Cold War.

The Cambridge History of America and the World: Volume 4, 1945 to the Present

The Cambridge History of America and the World: Volume 4, 1945 to the Present PDF Author: David C. Engerman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108317855
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 903

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Book Description
The fourth volume of The Cambridge History of America and the World examines the heights of American global power in the mid-twentieth century and how challenges from at home and abroad altered the United States and its role in the world. The second half of the twentieth century marked the pinnacle of American global power in economic, political, and cultural terms, but even as it reached such heights, the United States quickly faced new challenges to its power, originating both domestically and internationally. Highlighting cutting-edge ideas from scholars from all over the world, this volume anatomizes American power as well as the counters and alternatives to 'the American empire.' Topics include US economic and military power, American culture overseas, human rights and humanitarianism, third-world internationalism, immigration, communications technology, and the Anthropocene.

Captives of War

Captives of War PDF Author: Clare Makepeace
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107145872
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 307

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Book Description
Capture-- Imprisoned servicemen -- Bonds between men -- Ties with home -- Going "round the bend"--Liberation -- Resettling -- Conclusion

American Foreign Policy and Political Ambition

American Foreign Policy and Political Ambition PDF Author: James Lee Ray
Publisher: CQ Press
ISBN: 1483321002
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 496

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Book Description
In his eagerly-awaited second edition of American Foreign Policy and Political Ambition, James Ray revisits his deceptively simple premise that the highest priority of leaders is to stay in power. Looking at how political ambition and domestic pressures impact foreign policymaking is the key to understanding how and why foreign policy decisions are made. The text begins by using this analytic approach to look at the history of foreign policymaking and then examines how various parties inside and outside government influence decision making. In a unique third section, the book takes a regional approach, not only covering trends other books tend to miss, but giving students the opportunity to think comprehensively about how issues intersect around the globe—from human security and democratization, to globalization and pollution. Guided by input from adopters and reviewers, Ray has thoroughly re-organized the book and streamlined some coverage to better consolidate the historical, institutional, regional, and topical chapters and focus the thematic lens of the book. Ray has also brought the book fully up-to-date, addressing the latest events in American foreign policy, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the killing of Bin Laden, the WikiLeaks scandal and its aftermath, the impact of social media on foreign policy and world affairs, nuclear proliferation, developments in U.S.-Russian relations, climate change, and more.