| Papers [419-437] of 11691 :: [Page 23 of 616] | | Go to page : <— 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 —> | |
|
|
The United States and Korea, 1953, 2008.
A discussion of the significance of the end of the Korean War for the United States.
1,720 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 16 sources, MLA, $ 55.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines the events that led up to the end of the Korean War in 1953 and the impact it had on the United States. The paper states that one remarkable aspect of the ending of this war was the modest impact it had on America. It claims that this stemmed partly from the fact that Korea had not been a site of significant American interest before this war began, the war had bogged down into seemingly interminable negotiations, and the political situation was focused on other matters. The paper concludes that, when the armistice agreement was signed, there were no wild celebrations, perhaps because the country had finally ended a war it was truly tired of.
Outline:
Lack of a Historical Relationship/Lack of a Historical Korea
The Fall of China, the Rise of McCarthyism, and the Democratic Retreat
The Korean War: From the First Campaigns to the Fall of MacArthur
Armistice and Exhaustion
From the Paper
"At the end of World War Two, Korea remain of middling importance to the United States. American Secretary of State Dean Acheson did not define Korea as part of the American sphere of influence in the world, suggesting that the United States would not intervene militarily if North Korea attempted to take over South Korea,17 although apparently few in the American administration took this as a serious prospect. Thus, it was something of a shock when the United States intervened when the war broke out."
| |
|
India and Britain's Industrialization, 2008.
This paper explores the role of India in Britain's industrialization.
2,119 words (approx. 8.5 pages), 11 sources, MLA, $ 66.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper discusses how Britain's industrial development during the 18th and 19th century would not have occurred, or would have been much curtailed, without Britain's colonial empire and particularly that of India. The paper explains that the presence of the India colony market acted in the same way that international and global markets extend trade and commercial relationships across the globe today. The paper shows how the British Empire, therefore, was more than a colonial force but an economic model that foreshadowed the rise and influence of globalization.
Outline:
Introduction
Colonial Relevance
Economic Factors
Conclusion
From the Paper
"British industrialization is an important and much debated subject today given many of the similarities between the effect it had on the economic, financial, and social constructs of the time and the current impact of globalization spearheaded by technology on these same dimensions. Understanding the core components of how Britain's colonial expansion inspired or led to its mercantilism is critical to examining the current spread of globalization and how markets are integrating diverse markets within the structure of a single economic paradigm. The relationship between colonization and British industrialization is very similar to the relationship between globalization and the information and technology revolution within the contemporary economy."
| |
|
Buddhism in China, 2008.
An analysis of the factors that impeded Buddhism's assimilation into China.
1,917 words (approx. 7.7 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 61.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines how Buddhism came to China and what the main problems of assimilation associated with its introduction into the country were. More specifically, the paper looks at Buddhism's assimilation into the country taking into account the rulers of the time, the people and their beliefs and the other religions that already existed in China at the time that Buddhism was introduced.
From the Paper
"As a result a series of dictatorships ruled after the Han dynasty while Confucianism was discredited by the collapse of the old order. Confucianism failed to save the Empire from shattering into the pieces. Its prescribed relationship between the ruler and the subjects proved to be unsuccessful. It did not protect the gentry and scholars whose lives were dependent on the old monarchy. Additionally, as it was the official state doctrine of the Han dynasty it was strongly connected with the old regime that failed and new dynasties could not easily be persuaded to accept it as their doctrine. The elite was however, not too happy with Taoism either, and although present, Buddhism was "still in the process of being translated and adapted" (Wright, 7). This was because until the 4th century the Han Emperors permitted only foreigners to build monasteries and enter the new religion (Ch'en, 45) and because the early interpretation of the religion were closely tied with Taoism and done using Taoism terminology."
| |
|
Habeas Corpus - Civil Liberty or Civil Right, 2008.
An analysis of civil liberties and civil rights and which of them applies to habeas corpus.
3,137 words (approx. 12.5 pages), 15 sources, APA, $ 91.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explores the origins and history of habeas corpus, from its roots that predate the Magna Carta through to the present day, where it is being employed to the benefit of hundreds that wrongly languish in prison. The paper also explains the distinction between civil right and civil liberty and discusses which applies to habeas corpus. Lastly, the paper looks at the historic ups and downs of habeas corpus and discusses its unique place in the Constitution, separate from provisions contained in the Bill of Rights.
From the Paper
"Rights and liberties need to be at their strongest when public support is at its weakest. Civil rights are decreed by law, civil liberties are God given, and the actions of legislatures are inevitably governed by the politics of the time. Habeas corpus is a civil liberty included among the "self evident truths" of the Declaration of Independence, and alone one of the civil liberties that can be suspended by acts of the government during times of crisis. The president judged by history as one of the best, sought to suspend these liberties in time of extreme crisis in the nation's young history. It was circumvented to increase support during a world war, to intern "dangerous" citizens during another, and to grant due process rights to perpetrators of the war for the new millennium. It is now freeing hundred of wrongly convicted people of a crime. The future of habeas corpus is uncertain in the short term, but solid in the future as all inalienable rights bestowed upon the common man by his creator."
| |
|
Elizabeth I as a Machiavellian Figure, 2008.
An analysis of the ways in which Queen Elizabeth I used Machiavellian principles in her reign.
1,198 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 41.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper discusses how Elizabeth I, who was seen as "good Queen Bess," was a skilled ruler and often applied principles which were distinctly Machiavellian in their character. The paper describes examples from her reign that show her use of Machiavellian principles and their success and then looks at all aspects of Queen Elizabeth's reign from military and political to social.
From the Paper
"All the while, Elizabeth managed to maintain a court that became the flower of the kingdom. At her court, poets and playwrights, most notably William Shakespeare, brought the language and wit of England to its greatest flowering. (Ridley 330-31) While Machiavelli did not specifically address the usefulness of such arts in The Prince, he was well aware of the power of quality drama. He had written one of the foremost Italian Renaissance comedies, La Mandragola, and while the play is harsher and more unforgiving that Shakespeare's comedies, Machiavelli's command of the form suggests that had he been in England during this period, he would have been quite at home in the court of Queen Elizabeth, recognizing in her dealing with political problems someone who followed his principles, whether knowingly or not, and who understood his taste for fine language."
| |
|
"Caesar: Life of a Colossus", 2008.
A book review of "Caesar: Life of a Colossus" by Adrian Goldsworthy.
924 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 32.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper examines "Caesar: Life of a Colossus", the biography of the greatest of Rome's generals. The paper describes how Goldsworthy provides a biography that is comprehensive on the many different facets of leadership and personality traits that Caesar had in his long and successful career as a general and a public servant. The paper relates that Goldsworthy provides primary and secondary sources as well as historically authentic documents written by Caesar. The paper concludes that although Goldsworthy might have delved deeper into the ethical aspects of Caesar's megalomania and ruthless actions, he still provides an important and scholarly account of the famous Roman general and emperor.
Outline:
Summary
Analysis
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy examines the life of one of the greatest of the Rome's generals and reveals a biography from his earliest years, to his final downfall as a dictator of Rome. The basis of Caesar's military and educational training are essential parts of the biography, which Goldsworthy covers from childhood and early adulthood to his adult life as a general. The story then revolves around Caesar's military conquests, which result in his latter life being centered on his leadership as an emperor and finally, a dictator that is eventually put to death."
| |
|
The Role of Entertainment in Ancient Rome, 2008.
A discussion of the important function of entertainment in the political and everyday life of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.
1,878 words (approx. 7.5 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 60.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines the social and political significance of the entertainment in the life of ancient Rome. The paper explains that even though many forms of entertainment existed, special emphasis was given to the spectacles and public events rather than private events, like parties. The paper then looks at the function of these spectacles and their role in the politics and government of Ancient Rome. The paper discusses how, as Rome expanded both territorially and in influence, the status of the spectacles transformed - the expansion resulted in significant social and economic changes. The paper points out that entertainment in ancient Rome had a function that significantly differs from its function today - it was an opportunity for public gathering during which the people could speak freely and express their concerns. In conclusion, the paper shows that as Rome went from the republic to the empire, the spectacles remained important events and they gave the opportunity to the masses to see their ruler and express their opinion on state matters freely.
From the Paper
"The Romans were an agricultural society and their religion can be described as polytheistic paganism. The early religious rituals were aimed at pleasing the gods who, as Romans believed, controlled everything necessary for a successful harvest like crop growth and weather. The rituals were not limited only to the agriculture. They also extended to celebrations of military victories, celebrations of various household deities, etc. As Shelton notes "these days were the days of sacrifice and ritual, but also of holiday merriment, as Easter or Christmas are for us today" (329). In other words, these holidays were a great opportunity to skip a day of hard work, relax, socialize, be grateful for what you have and, through the rituals, do the best to have more next season. As such these holidays did not have any deeper political and social position in the Roman society.
|
| Term Paper # 102625 |
temporarily unavailable
|
|
|
|
How Does Evolution Really Work?, 2008.
An analysis of the theory behind evolution and natural selection, according to Charles Darwin.
878 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 31.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper discusses the concepts behind Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. It describes the four processes of evolution according to Darwin, while specifically focusing on hummingbirds from Ecuador as a great example of a species in which the gene pool has prepared for long-term survival. The paper also briefly mentions the arguments against Darwin.
Outline:
Summary
Discussion
From the Paper
"Although Darwin's theories are accepted by the majority of the scientific community, there are still those that put it in doubt in spite of the evidence that has arisen from the study of fossils and genetic material. As he himself had anticipated in The Origin of Species, "That many and grave objections may be advanced against the theory of descent with modification through natural selection, I do not deny" (Darwin ch. 14, para. 2, line 1). In his time, Darwin's theories caused outrage since they challenged the traditional views of Church and society. Natural selection was contrary to both the notion of human domination and the concept of divine intervention. The same fear persists until this day. In some societies, the concept of evolution as conceived by Darwin is still in conflict with religious beliefs. For many, the main obstacle is the fact that natural selection is just a theory and no scientific proof as such is available ("Evolutionary Science"). Just as with gravitation we see the effects and not gravitation itself, with natural selection we see its effects but research still needs to be performed to fully explain its mechanisms."
| |
|
Revolution in Europe, 2008.
An analysis of social and political revolution in Europe in the nineteenth century, based on D. Mason's book "Revolutionary Europe 1789-1989-Liberty, Equality, Solidarity."
3,169 words (approx. 12.7 pages), 9 sources, MLA, $ 91.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper discusses the development of a number of social and political movements based around certain ideas about human behavior and society and the relationship between the two, during the nineteenth century in Europe. The paper focuses its analysis on the genesis, development and progress of these movements in the nineteenth century and how they are described by D. Mason in his book "Revolutionary Europe 1789-1989-Liberty, Equality, Solidarity."
From the Paper
"Wollstonecraft was dedicated to the primacy of reason, and it was her belief in reason that permitted her to conceive a world in which women might be seen by the world in a new way, a way that undid the violence of social norms requiring a simple, seemingly serene appearance in women, whose lives were thus molded to fit the dictates of masculine power in society. She also had a freed sensibility that brought her closer to an understanding of the true self. Wollstonecraft's language has a deliberate biblical undertone that is all part of her attempt to restore to women the human right of self-respect. Women resort to artifice in order to place the world, though such assumed feelings are awkward when compared to real feelings. She pleads for women to be seen as they really are. Her view is directly opposite that of Rousseau, though she begins with the same question, noting first that "either nature has made a great difference between man and man, or that the civilization which has hitherto taken place in the world has been very partial" (Wollstonecraft, 1975, p. 7)."
| |
|
The Malthusian Trap and Early-Modern Europe, 2008.
This paper argues that the economic crisis experienced during the early-modern period of European history was not caused by a Malthusian trap.
2,070 words (approx. 8.3 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 65.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that historians argue that the economic crises experienced during the early-modern period across most of Europe and the subsequent population growth, which led to an inability for many of these individual markets to support their respective populations, was a type of Malthusian trap. The author points out that the Malthusian trap is the principle, based on Malthus' theory of population and economics, which observes that man is inclined to propagate beyond his means to support the population. The paper relates that the application of this principle to early modern Europe is often a misguided attempt to redirect the historical research to a socio-historic perspective rather than a purely economic perspective. The author concludes that, while certain markets in Europe might indeed have become over-populated with respect to their ability to provide basic levels of sustenance for their populations, other countries, such as England, did not suffer such a population growth and, furthermore, managed to maintain relatively stable economic growth in spite of Europe's overall economic decline during this period. The paper includes an annotated bibliography.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Malthus on Population Growth
Technological Impact
Conclusion
From the Paper
"In an artificial economy established in an economic lab such set ratios can be accurately predictive. However, in the natural environment, there are many external factors that would affect change on his model, and did affect change. Prices are a key oversight in his theory. While the basic premise that population growth may outstrip the growth in food productivity was true based on the circumstances within which he operated, he didn't account for the economics of food productivity to drive an increase in production worldwide that offset any local market conditions and shortages in supply."
| |
|
The French and Chinese Revolutions, 2008.
A comparison of the French Revolution of 1789 and the Chinese Revolution of 1911 and their political instability.
1,531 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 50.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper analyzes the fragility of new revolutionary governments. It compares and contrasts two revolutions in order to explain its points. It looks at the French Revolution of 1789 and the Chinese Revolution of 1911. The paper discusses each revolution and shows why the new government in each case was a fragile and unstable political environment.
From the Paper
"From outside China, Sun and other revolutionaries attempted to form a new revolutionary party. Sun, having noted that Shikai had out manoeuvred the revolutionaries at every turn, decided to consolidate the various factions into one larger group that could respond better to the President's actions. Sun was to be in total control of this confederation of rebel organizations. Thus even the revolutionaries of China had reverted to an authoritarian model, one that many of the smaller revolutionary sects considered completely wrong. It was during this time of tenuous and dispirited rebel planning to topple Shakai that World War I erupted, and parts of China were occupied by Japan, completely disrupting the revolutionary process and leaving Shakai more or less completely unopposed."
| |
|
The Decolonization of India, 2008.
This paper argues that internal factors played as large a role as any other in the decolonization of India.
2,520 words (approx. 10.1 pages), 9 sources, MLA, $ 76.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that the most notable internal factors influencing the decolonization of India is the gradual handing-over of more and more power to Indian political elites in the Legislative Councils of India in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century. The author points out how collective memory, while well-concealed during the apogee of British might in the last-half of the nineteenth century, also fueled underground resistance to British rule. The paper explores how the rise of nationalist associations and a series of reforms by the British - the 1861 Indian Councils Act, the 1892 Act and most significantly the sweeping Morley-Minto reforms of 1909 in response to the foolishness of former Viceroy George Curzon - led to India being slowly introduced to responsible government and to the parliamentary traditions, which would sustain it when it became wholly independent after the Second World War.
From the Paper
"It is axiomatic that empires cost a lot of money; it is also axiomatic that empires eventually must respond to the demands and concerns of the repressed - at least somewhat - or destructive rebellion, the disruption of trade and commodity production, and a general rise in hostilities will result. For the British, the 1857 Uprising and the subsequent 1861 Councils Act were only the first steps towards recognizing that the cultural imperialism of the past was no longer going to suffice as the twentieth century drew nigh. To wit, in 1892 a revised Indian Councils Act was passed that permitted "local comment" and criticism for legislation passed by the provincial legislative councils."
| |
|
Jelaluddin Rumi and Sufism, 2008.
This paper discuses Jelaluddin Rumi, one of the most well-known of Persian poets, who is largely credited with infusing Sufism with its highly intimate relationship with aesthetic traditions.
2,850 words (approx. 11.4 pages), 9 sources, MLA, $ 84.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that classically trained Jelaluddin Rumi, who was born in 1207 in the region that is now part of Afghanistan, lived most of his life in Turkey and the surrounding area. The author points out that Rumi created the Mevlevi Order of Dervishes or commonly called the Whirling Dervishes of Sufism. The paper relates that the Whirling Dervishes are most recognized for their unique dance movements, oblique body posturing, acute mental focus and their musical facility, which is said to combine to bring them closer in union to God. The author states that Rumi's poetry is regarded as the cultural epicenter of all thought, literature, dance and music in the world of Islamic aesthetics. The paper reports that the traditional approach to studying the impact of Rumi's poetry on Sufi music has been to examine the text from a critical theoretic perspective.
From the Paper
"The natural academic tendency, regardless of academic specialty, is to examine the concepts contained within the lines of verse; to question 'what is the tree of wisdom' and to ask what or how one identifies one's internal "fairy." These are important metaphysical questions that can and should be asked of the text through critical analysis. However, therein rests the academic pitfall that most researchers and even casual observers typically get trapped in: the interpretation of the text which is made even more complex in translation."
| |
|
A Change in Liberal Democracy, 2008.
A discussion of the shift in the ideology of liberal democracy.
2,142 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 67.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines how the existence of the Cold War had many effects on liberal democratic states and also affected to a degree the way in which democracy was, and continues to be, understood in these states. The paper explains that this includes the United States, which in some ways has come to see democracy as a given that more and more people have been willing to give up aspects of a democratic state in the face of a threat, as has been seen in the acquiescence of the people to a variety of intrusions on their democratic rights since 9-11. The paper also discusses how the success of democracy in the Cold War should have solidified that political ideology as to be preferred, but its very success seems to have opened it to new threats from within. In conclusion, the paper shows that more and more, liberal democracies are defining themselves in terms of collective security over individual preference, and this signals a profound shift in thought that only makes the future more uncertain.
From the Paper
"Schlesinger says that America in the past has stood as an example of a federal, multi-ethnic society that worked, but he seems to believe that this is no longer the case. The U.S. has worked because it has been able to offer answers to the question of what reasons are there for different ethnic groups to see themselves as part of the same nation. Schlesinger now sees an eruption of ethnicity in America, which may have many good consequences, but which he also believes has many bad consequences."
| |
|
Politics and Transformation of Asia-Pacific, 2008.
A discussion on the causes of the Korean War and how it led to the transformation of the Asia-Pacific region.
2,205 words (approx. 8.8 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 68.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper argues that the most significant conflict in recent times over a major ideal was the Korean War. It suggests that the ideology of communism versus democracy was responsible for the rise of the developmental state and the economic Asian "miracle," which led to the conflict of the East Asian financial debacle of 1997-1998.
From the Paper
"Consistent with the Japanese model, in South Korea, the industrialization that spurred such "breakneck economic growth" (Sang-Hun 2005) in one generation from 1960-1994 "was driven by government initiatives rather than market forces [as a] planed economy" (Hasung 2006). In South Korea large financial conglomerates, family-owned and operated chaebols, backed by the government were key players in this drive to lift Korea from poverty to power by developing Korean industries where capital markets were not yet established and competition in domestic markets was low. CFOs like Daewoo's Kim Woo Choong was committed to building a Korean industrial empire and mandated by President Park Chung to do so. The incessant amassing of wealth, popularly patriotic, was the general consensus invigorating that generation and sustaining the chaebols system."
| |
|
Caribbean Culture and Cultural Imperialism, 2007.
A discussion on whether the Caribbean society is too receptive and diverse for its own good.
1,633 words (approx. 6.5 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 53.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines the Caribbean culture and at how its dynamic polyglot, diverse nature - and its ability, and even willingness, to accommodate different cultures and ethno-social traditions - has actually made it vulnerable on a number of profound levels. It explains that the Caribbean nations have shown a marked inability to throw off the cultural, linguistic and educational encrustations of the European nations which took over the region generations ago and which re-shaped their new fiefdoms in ways that effectively did away with pre-European values, codes, religions and dialects. The paper also looks at how many Caribbean young people attend English or French schools and prepare themselves for entry into a "global village" that is controlled by the very ethno-racial groups which turned their own lands "upside-down" in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries. In essence, the paper shows that by looking at the fragmented nature of the Caribbean world and by looking at the impress of foreign language upon its peoples and formal structures, a region is revealed that has lost much of its ability to marshal its forces against external imperialistic forces. The writer believes that the Caribbean must start doing a better job of privileging its indigenous traditions and dialects or it will finally, ineradicably, lose them forever.
From the Paper
"Many observers are of the view that the Caribbean is a melting pot; that it is a place wherein European and non-European types "creolize" and thereby shed their different historical-national identities in favor of one that is "West Indian" in nature. This argument, however, has been vigorously challenged by others who assert that the Caribbean is really a collection of different regions which have their own unique, distinctive features. Simply put, while there may be regional similarities vis-a-vis food, music, dance, dress and a host of other elements, there are many more (or at least as many more) differences as there are similarities (Allahar, p.1-2). Simply put, Allahar appears to be to arguing two things: firstly, West Indian/Caribbean is diverse; secondly, despite this diversity, the region has certain societal features that distinguish it from other regions and which bind together its disparate elements."
| |
|
Empires in the First Half of the 20th Century, 2008.
A comparison of imperial China and the Austro-Hungarian empire during the first half of the 20th century.
1,760 words (approx. 7.0 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 56.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines the transformations in political structures that took place in the first part of the 20th century in China and Europe, in particular the area of Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was territorially-reconstructed after World War I. The paper points out that China was an Empire for two thousand years and Austro-Hungary was Europe's oldest great power. The paper argues that nationalism was the leading cause of the changes that took place. While imperial China stayed territorially more or less the same, its political structure changed significantly. The Austro-Hungarian Empire on the other hand ceased to exist, and the Empire collapsed, much like most European Empires at the time, giving birth to new nations and various forms of governments. Noting the general trend of change in both China and Europe, the paper concludes that, as empires crumbled, they were replaced by several forms of governments ranging from democracies to totalitarian regimes.
From the Paper
"There were many consequences of World War I, including the ten million casualties in the armies (Esler, 2004). Also, this war significantly changed the map of Europe. The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed and in its place several new nations were born. The Slavic nationalists were somewhat appeased by the treaty of Versailles. Yugoslavia was formed, unifying Southern Slavs, with its core in Serbia. Czechoslovakia too was a Slavic country formed with the break up of Austro-Hungary (Sontag, 1971). The Russian Empire crumbled and was replaced with a communist revolution and regime. The treaty of Versailles also significantly weakened Germany. It was stripped of its colonies, disarmed and forced to pay reparations. Parts of it were given to Poland and the Czech Republic."
| |
|
Mikhail Gorbachev, 2008.
A look at the rule of Mikhail Gorbachev and the changes he made to the
international system in the 1980s.
4,072 words (approx. 16.3 pages), 13 sources, MLA, $ 109.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines the era of the Cold War and in particular, the role played by Mikhail Gorbachev in influencing the course of historical events in the 1980s. The thesis is argued that Gorbachev initiated the processes that brought about the end of the Cold War not so much in response to international conditions so much as to the domestic situation in the Soviet Union - both economic and political. It also argues that he realized that immediate steps to reform were required if the Soviet Union were to meet the challenges of a new era.
Outline:
Introduction
The Soviet Union Before Gorbachev
The Domestic Climate of the USSR
Gorbachev's "New Thinking" and the End of the Cold War
Riding the Dragon of Reform
Conclusion
From the Paper
"While it is undeniable that Mikhail Gorbachev is the single most important Soviet figure during the 1980s, and arguably the personality most responsible for the end of the Cold War, his rise to power in the Soviet system represents a fascinating problem for students of Soviet history. Indeed, several years after Gorbachev had come to power George Kennan - the U.S. diplomat who had played a key role in the development of the "containment strategy" in the 1940s - was asked in a television interview how so unconventional a figure could have risen to the top of the Soviet system that had - during the long Brezhnev era - being characterized as moribund and extremely conservative. Kennan's response is illuminating: "I really cannot explain it." "
|
|
|