P.M.H. Bell was formerly Reader in History at the University of Liverpool (UK)

A masterly synthesis of the history of the contemporary world, The World Since 1945 offers the ideal introduction to the events of the period between the end of the Second World War and the present day. P. M. H. Bell and Mark Gilbert balance a clear narrative with in-depth analysis to guide the reader through the aftermath of the Second World War, the Cold War, decolonization, Détente and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, up to the on-going ethnic strife and political instability of the 21st century.

The new edition has been thoroughly revised to fully reflect developments in the history and historiography of the post-war world, and features five new chapters on the post-Cold War world, covering topics including:
- The rise and fall of American hegemony
- The decline of Europe
- The rise of Asia
- Political Islam as a global force
- The role of human rights
The World Since 1945 challenges us to better understand what happened and why in the post-war period and shows the ways in which the past continues to exercise a profound influence on the present. It is essential reading for any student of contemporary history.

List of Maps
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Prologue: A New Era in International Politics
1. The Second World War and its consequences
2. The beginning of the post-war world
The Cold War, 1945-1962
3. The antagonists
4. From Potsdam to the Marshall Plan, 1945-47
5. From the Prague Coup to the North Atlantic Treaty, 1948-49
6. From Korea to Hungary, 1949-1956
7. The Berlin and Cuba Crises, 1957-1962
Reflection: The Cold War in its early phases
Decolonization and Wars of Succession, 1945-1960s
8. The Middle East, 1945-c. 1962
9. Transformation in Asia, 1945-1962
10. The New Africa
11. The Bandung Conference, 1955 and Non-alignment
12. Latin America Contested, 1945-1973
Reflection: The 'Third World'
The Cold War: Détente
13. The Cold War and Détente, 1963-1969
14. The high tide of détente, 1969-1975
15. The end of détente, 1976-1980
Reflection: The essence of détente
The Changing World Order, 1960s-1990s
16. The Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1963-1982
17. The Geopolitics of Oil, 1973-91
18. The Rise of Asia, c.1962-1990s
19. Turmoil in Africa, c.1962-1990s
20. Latin America in World Affairs, 1970s-1990s
Reflection: Where is Europe?
The Ending of the Cold War
21. Renewed Cold War, 1980-85
22. Gorbachev and Reagan, 1985-88
23. Three years that shook the world, 1989-91
Reflection: The Cold War in Retrospect
After the Cold War
24. Global Issues
25. Nationalism, Political Conflict, and War in Europe
26. The Wounded Hegemon
27. Democracy and Human Rights
Further reading
Index