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John Lewis Gaddis

chainz

On the topic of the causes of the cold war, one would say that Gaddis is an orthodox right?

Reply 1

WokSz

17

Yes, very much! He was very Pro-US and seems to glorify them. I would suggest reading some stuff by him to see what orthodox writers have to say.

Reply 2

liamb

9

Gaddis is moderately right wing (imho) but that doesn't invalidate what he says automatically. People like Kolko, for example, spent their entire academic lives trying to make the evidence fit their particular world view.

I'd give Gaddis some credit for admitting some of his earlier work was wrong (Intro to 'We Now Know'). Look at what a person says not what they are - Gaddis does well - and it is only his opinion which you, I and everyone else can accept or reject (partially or fully).

Reply 3

sophisti_kate

Hey! My teacher loved Gaddis because he is so quotable and I would definitely say that you should read at least a couple of chapters of his book "We Know Now" to get some quotes as the examiners will love this! IMO I would say he was orthodox in some ways, but that he focused much more than other historians on individuals and how their personalities affected the progress of the Cold War - Gaddis really believed that had Stalin not been in power there would not have been a Cold War to the same extent or at all - he also looks at what could have happened if Stalin had been in power during the Cuban Missile Crisis (a vvv scary thought I know!) and the legacy he had on future Communist leaders - hope this helps, PM for more!!!

Reply 4

WokSz

17

liamb

Gaddis is moderately right wing (imho) but that doesn't invalidate what he says automatically. People like Kolko, for example, spent their entire academic lives trying to make the evidence fit their particular world view.

I'd give Gaddis some credit for admitting some of his earlier work was wrong (Intro to 'We Now Know'). Look at what a person says not what they are - Gaddis does well - and it is only his opinion which you, I and everyone else can accept or reject (partially or fully).

I'd say a great deal.

Reply 5

liamb

9

WokSz

I'd say a great deal.

A great deal of what?

Is that Gaddis being very right wing?

If so go and have a look at some neo-con views of the Cold War. I don't feel Gaddis is 'my country right or wrong'. Also does being right wing make someone automatically suspect. No-one gives William Applebaum Williams a bad time just for being left wing (and a Truman hater).

Reply 6

liamb

9

sophisti_kate

Hey! My teacher loved Gaddis because he is so quotable and I would definitely say that you should read at least a couple of chapters of his book "We Know Now" to get some quotes as the examiners will love this!

I liked the book as well. I also liked Gaddis's clear style and I felt he encouraged his readers to question more - even his own ideas.
I thought the Tricerotops metaphor a good one for an exam answer - whether you agreed or disagreed - it makes a good starting point. I also think that the book matches up nicely with 'Inside the Kremlin's Cold War' by Zubek and another Russian whose name slips me at the moment (sorry). It is well worth reading, especially for the outbreak of the Cold War from a Russian (if not Soviet) perspective.

Reply 7

WokSz

17

liamb

A great deal of what?

Is that Gaddis being very right wing?

If so go and have a look at some neo-con views of the Cold War. I don't feel Gaddis is 'my country right or wrong'. Also does being right wing make someone automatically suspect. No-one gives William Applebaum Williams a bad time just for being left wing (and a Truman hater).

I never said that just because I felt he was very right wing makes him suspect. He's a very good historian and academic, however, a lot of things he says seems to be as if he's justifying the US's actions.

Reply 8

liamb

9

It's the 'very' I'm not sure about. But I feel he isn't 'triumphalist' or an 'apologistic' like some other US historians.
However, what I would like is to know more about your opinions about Gaddis the historian as I feel you have some interesting points to make (and probably about other CW writers too)
thanks for the stimulating comments

John Lewis Gaddis

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