The purpose of this book is to give an accurate and scholarly assessment of a major international crisis, and to contribute to public understanding of the decisions and processes that brought about the crisis. Calvert deals with the nature and history of the Falkland Islands, the grounds for the competing claims, the political background and events in both Argentina and Britain that led up to the crisis, and the unfolding events of the crisis itself, in its political, diplomatic and military aspects. He concludes with a substantial assessment of the impact of the crisis on international politics.
Alexander Claud Cockburn was an American political journalist. Cockburn was brought up in Ireland but has lived and worked in the United States since 1972. Together with Jeffrey St. Clair, he edits the political newsletter CounterPunch. Cockburn also writes the "Beat the Devil" column for The Nation and a weekly syndicated column for the Los Angeles Times as well as for The First Post, which is syndicated by Creators Syndicate.