A Grand Strategy of Peace - (Key Studies in Diplomacy) by Andrew Ehrhardt (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book tells the story of Britain's role in the creation of the United Nations Organization during the Second World War.

Book Synopsis

From the Back Cover

'A fascinating account of how British officials worked during the Second World War on the design of a new world organisation that would somehow preserve British influence, which might otherwise be expected to decline, while promoting collective security.' Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London

A grand strategy of peace is the first extended account of Britain's role in the creation of the United Nations Organization during the Second World War. As a work of traditional diplomatic history that brings in elements of intellectual history, the book describes how British officials, diplomats, politicians, and writers - previously seen to be secondary actors to the United States in this period - thought about, planned for, and helped to establish a future international order.
While in the present day, many scholars and analysts have returned to the origins of the post-1945 international system, this book offers a detailed account of how the statesmen and more importantly, the officials working below the statesmen, actually conceived of and worked to establish a post-war world order. The book provides a detailed case study in diplomatic planning and negotiation, as well as Second World War diplomacy and statecraft.

Review Quotes

'A fascinating account of how British officials worked during the Second World War on the design of a new world organisation that would somehow preserve British influence, which might otherwise be expected to decline, while promoting collective security.' Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London

'A grand strategy of peace fills in what has been up to now an underappreciated part of the complex story of how the United Nations came to be. Drawing on extensive research and with a keen eye for both the big picture and the telling detail, Andrew Ehrhardt shows the key role played by British thinking, planning and diplomacy during and just after the Second World War. His book is a major contribution to scholarship as well as a timely reminder of the great issues and challenges which still face the nations of the world today.' Margaret MacMillan, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Toronto and an Emeritus Professor of International History at Oxford University

About the Author