A Dictionary of Contemporary History 1945 to the Present

This book is a concise guide to the ideas, events, people and movements that have shaped the world from the end of the Second World War to the present.The Dictionary comprises over 500 entries that extend beyond a simple factual description to discuss the origins and significance of key decisions and events. Coverage is global, with entries on all major countries of the world, as well as general entries on issues of international significance, including the global economy, population explosion and women's liberation. Extensive cross-referencing enables the reader to link one entry with another, and each of the key entries contains a guide to further reading. The book will be invaluable to students of history, international relations, politics and all those interested in current affairs in general.

Duncan Townson is a professional historian and is the author of the Penguin Dictionary of Modern History, 1789-1945 (1994), Muslim Spain (1973) and Illustrated Atlas of the Modern World (1981).