David Painter provides a compact and analytical study of the origins, course and end of the Cold War. Taking a global overview and emphasising the Third World as well as the contested regions of Asia and Central America, he includes discussion of:* the global distribution of power the arms race the world economy the human and financial costs of the Cold War key incidents, wars, 'actors' and especially 'the end'.The book will prove an invaluable introduction to the international state of affairs between 1945 and 1990.