Peter Mangold Bücher

The book explores Britain's historical involvement in the Middle East, highlighting its military actions from the Napoleonic Wars to contemporary efforts against ISIS. It examines Britain's role as both an intruder and protector, shaping political landscapes by creating states, influencing leadership, and addressing conflicts. Peter Mangold analyzes the successes and failures of British policies, particularly in relation to Arab nationalism, and assesses the complex legacy left behind, including contributions to stability in some regions contrasted with ongoing instability in Iraq and Palestine.

In 1963, General de Gaulle (described by the Foreign Office as Prime Minister Macmillan's ""almost impossible ally"") aggressively vetoed Britain's first bid to join the Common Market. It was a blow that delayed Britain's entry for a decade and hastened the end of Harold Macmillan's political career. Peter Mangold explores the complex issues that bound the two men in the post-war world, from decolonization to co-operation in the Cold War, and the character traits that separated them in this fascinating portrait of an Anglo-French friendship that turned sour.

The narrative explores the evolution of power politics, beginning with the establishment of the German battlefleet and culminating in Gorbachev's reforms. It highlights the Great Powers' failure to acknowledge the catastrophic consequences of war, leading to two world wars. Post-1945, a decline in power politics emerged, constrained by nuclear weapons and Soviet revisionism. The book argues that moral objections, technological progress, and economic development contributed to the rise of a norm-based, accommodatory culture, paving the way for a new post-Cold War order.

The book explores the competitive involvement of superpowers in Middle Eastern conflicts, highlighting their limited control and the risks of nuclear confrontation, particularly post-1973 Arab-Israeli war. It also addresses the threat to Western oil supplies, making it a significant resource for scholars and students of Middle Eastern history and political diplomacy. The insights into the dynamics between Western superpowers and this volatile region enhance its relevance for those interested in international relations.