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.

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

Mark Gilbert is Professor of History and International Studies at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, USA.

Introduction
1. The Second World War and its Consequences
2. The Beginnings of the Post-War World
PART I: 1945-1962
The Cold War
3. The Antagonists
4. The Beginning of the Cold War, 1: From Potsdam to the Marshall Plan
5. The Beginning of the Cold War, 2: The Prague Coup to the North Atlantic Treaty, 1948-1949
6. The Cold War: Korea to Hungary, 1949-1956
7. The Cold War: Berlin to Cuba, 1957-1962
Decolonization and the Wars of Succession, 1945-1962
8. The Middle East, 1945-1962
9. Transformation in Asia, 1945-1962
10. The New Africa, 1945-1962
11. The Bandung Conference, 1955: The Afro-Asian Movement and Non-Alignment
PART II: FROM 1963 TO THE END OF THE COLD WAR
Cold War, Second Phase: Détente, Renewal and the End
12. The Cold War and Détente, 1963-1969
13. The High Tide of Détente, 1969-1975
14. The End of Détente, 1976-1980
15. Renewed Cold War, 1980-1985
16. Gorbachev and Reagan, 1985- 1988: Transformation Scene
17. Three Years That Shook the World, 1989-1991
The World Outside the Cold War
18. The Middle East and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1963-1979
19. The Two Oil Shocks: Middle East, 1973-1974, Iran, 1979-1980
20. The Rise of Asia, c.1962-1990
21. The Fate of Africa, c.1962-1990
22. Latin America and the World, 1945-1990
PART III: THE POST COLD WAR WORLD
23. The Rise and Fall of American Hegemony
24. European Decline
25. Political Islam
26. Global Challenges
27. Dilemmas of an Unstable World
PART IV: STRUCTURES AND MOVEMENTS
28. The New Diplomacy
29. Religion and World Affairs
30. Material Resources and the Environment
Guide to Further Reading
Index