"For nearly half a century the world was divided in two, wrenched apart by superpowers that perceived the nations of the world only as either capitalist or communist. The Cold War was a battle not of weapons but rather of minds, fought by intelligence agencies and covert government envoys, while propaganda machines worked behind the scenes to create the illusion of a constant threat of conspiracy and treason." "In The Cold War: A Beginner's Guide, Merrilyn Thomas peels back layers of deception and intrigue to dispel the myths and reassess many of the commonly-held truths which have since shaped our world. Using evidence from newly opened archives, Thomas offers a global view of events as she contrasts the Western experience with that of the Soviet Union and its allies. From the power of Mao's 'Little Red Book' to the menace of nuclear annihilation, this account brings to life one of history's most contentious periods, the legacy of which still haunts us today."--Jacket.

Communism and capitalism -- Propaganda, plots and bombs -- THe freeze: from the Second World War to the division of Europe -- The thaw: détente in Europe -- Confrontation: the end of the Cold War in Europe -- Cuba and Latin America -- Asia -- The Middle East -- Africa.