The Council on Foreign Relations and American Policy in the Early Cold War / Edition 1

by Michael Wala

Overview

Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations is still active today; in fact, the interest in its activities is growing. However, to date little is known about the major aspects of the organization. We are pleased to offer the first comprehensive evaluation of its impact on the decision-making process of American foreign policy, particularly in the immediate postwar period. Was the CFR, as richist critics claimed, "the nexus of the organized subversive effort in America"; or was it, as leftists claimed, "a central link binding American foreign policy to the corporate upper class"; or did it fall somewhere in between these rather extreme characterizations? Based on extensive analysis of primary sources, this book clearly delineates the Council's activities - its study and discussion groups and its publications - and the developing internation political, military, and economic situations. This ground-breaking study was highly acclaimed when it first appeared in German, and its availability in translation will be most welcome.

Michael Wala is Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences of the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg. He previously edited Allen Dulles's The Marshall Plan (1993).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781571810038
Publisher:	Berghahn Books
Publication date:	11/01/1994
Pages:	289
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.69(d)
Lexile:	1630L (what's this?)

Editorial Reviews

About the German edition:

"...[Wala] has dug deeply into the archives of the Council and many other primary sources...his case is well made and well expressed."."  · Foreign Affairs

"...This excellent book...merits serious study on both sides of the Atlantic...[Wala] reveals complex interconnections between officials in the Truman administration and members of the council."  · American Historical Review

From the Publisher

...This excellent book...merits serious study on both sides of the Atlantic...[Wala] reveals complex interconnections between officials in the Truman administration and members of the council.

American Historical Review

...[Wala] has dug deeply into the archives of the Council and many other primary sources...his case is well made and well expressed.

Foreign Affairs

Translated from German into English, this evaluation of the Council's impact on US foreign policy decision-making examines the New York- based CFR in the formative years of the Cold War. Tackling arguments of both the Left and the far-Right and refuting conclusions that the Council's influence was minimal, Wala (social sciences, U. of Erlangen-Nurnberg) argues that Council members played key roles in fostering a post World War II bipartisan internationalist foreign policy. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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