Condemned to Repeat It

This book addresses six historical myths that underwrote U.S. containment policy during Cold War. Collapse of Soviet empire seemed to confirm wisdom of U.S. containment policy and these "lessons of history" as universal truths that still influence U.S. foreign policy thinking today: 1) A European states system based on realism, balance-of-power, raison d'etat, and great power diplomacy did not keep a "long peace" from 1815 to 1914. 2) The punitive Versailles Treaty with Germany did not cause rise of Adolf Hitler and World War Two. 3) Erroneous analogies to Neville Chamberlain's failed attempt to avert war at Munich in 1938 worked into every debate on use of force to stop communist aggression during Cold War. 4) Franklin Roosevelt did not "give away" Eastern Europe to Stalin at Yalta Conference in 1945. Conventional version of Yalta as a deal to divide Europe is fictional. 5) U.S. containment policy did not create a stable bi-polar world, and preserve another "long peace" for forty-five years after World War Two. 6) Ronald Reagan's military build-up and ideological crusade against Soviet Union did not cause fall of communism in 1989. Mikhail Gorbachev gave up the Soviet Empire. The Reagan "victory school" version of end of Cold War has given American leaders belief that United States alone possesses power to create a liberal democratic, free market world order. This book appeals to anyone with interest in legacy of Cold War--Publisher's description.