Conceptual Readings into the Cold War: Towards Transnational Approaches from the Perspective of Latin American Studies in Eastern and Western Europe

Leituras conceituais na Guerra Fria: rumo a abordagens transnacionais a partir da perspectiva dos estudos latino-americanos na Europa Oriental e Ocidental

Lecturas conceptuales en la Guerra Fría: hacia enfoques transnacionales desde la perspectiva de los estudios latinoamericanos en Europa Oriental y Occidental

Abstract

This bibliographical and conceptual essay summarizes recent research in Cold War Studies in Europe and the Americas, especially on smaller states in historiographical studies. Against the background of an increasing connectedness and globalization of research about the Cold War, the authors highlight the importance of the full-scale integration of countries and regions of the 'Global South' into Cold War Studies. Critical readings of the newly available resources reveal the existence of important decentralizing perspectives resulting from Cold War entanglements of the 'Global South' with the 'Global North.' As a result, the idea that these state actors from the former 'periphery' of the Cold War should be considered as passive recipients of superpower politics seems rather troubled. The evidence shows (at least partially) autonomous and active multiple actors.

Keywords:
new Cold War History; Global South; small States; Latin America; Europe