Limits of Détente: The United States, the Soviet Union, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1969-1973

by Craig Daigle

In the first book-length analysis of the origins of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Craig Daigle draws on documents only recently made available to show how the war resulted not only from tension and competing interest between Arabs and Israelis, but also from policies adopted in both Washington and Moscow. Between 1969 and 1973, the Middle East in general and the Arab-Israeli conflict in particular emerged as a crucial Cold War battleground where the limits of détente appeared in sharp relief. By prioritizing Cold War détente rather than genuine stability in the Middle East, Daigle shows, the United States and the Soviet Union fueled regional instability that ultimately undermined the prospects of a lasting peace agreement. Daigle further argues that as détente increased tensions between Arabs and Israelis, these tensions in turn negatively affected U.S.–Soviet relations.

Genres: History

447 pages, Hardcover

First published July 24, 2012

Reviews

[Sophie Cathérine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a paper in cultural studies and was pleasantly surprised by the lovely and accessible writing style. It is still very dense and not FUN to read, but one of the more readable uni books on such a topic I have read so far. I would give it 3,75 stars.