Stephen Kinzer est un correspondant étranger réputé dont la couverture a couvert plus de 50 pays sur cinq continents. Ses articles et livres lui ont valu la reconnaissance, The Washington Post le qualifiant "parmi les meilleurs dans le récit populaire de politique étrangère". Grâce à son style narratif distinctif, Kinzer éclaire des événements mondiaux complexes et des relations internationales, offrant aux lecteurs des perspectives captivantes.
A dramatic story of the centuries-old power struggle that burst into the headlines in 1979 with the overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship. It is a vibrant portrait of the Nicaraguan people and their volcanic land, a cultural history rich in poetry and bloodshed, baseball and insurrection.
During the 1950s, when the Cold War was at its peak, two immensely powerful brothers led the US into a series of foreign adventures whose effects are still shaking the world. In this book, the story of John Foster Dulles and Allen Dulles is the story of America. It illuminates and helps explain the modern history of the US and the world.
The David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University work to increase knowledge of the cultures, histories, environment, and contemporary affairs of Latin America; foster cooperation and understanding among the people of the Americas; and contribute to democracy, social progress, and sustainable development throughout the hemisphere. Book jacket
BITTER FRUIT is about the means & methods the USA, thru the CIA & its ambassador, used to overthrow Guatemala's democratically elected government in '54. Guatemalan president Jacobo Arbenz was leading an administration working to enact land reform. It was hoped that these efforts, among others, would stem the tide of poverty in a country still bound to a labor system that forced poor people to work a certain number of days on large farms or face prison time. Shaking off the vestiges of a dictatorship that was defeated by popular elections in the '40s, Guatemala sought such reforms to enfranchise more citizens. The "fruit" of the title is that of the United Fruit Company, an American concern with large land, labor & capital holdings in Guatemala & the Caribbean. UFC also had much influence in government, particularly with Eisenhower's Republican administration. When Arbenz's government took the rights to UFC land (much of it was left uncultivated, held as an "in case" the company said) & paid it the value the company had listed on its Guatemalan tax returns, influence was peddled in Washington, the word "communism" was thrown around & Eisenhower gave the go-ahead to covert operations to overthrow Arbenz & replace him with an American supported military junta. Ironically, the Guatemalan move to democracy in the '40s was inspired by FDR & the country's belief in rights for all humans, whatever the economic level. (Truman wouldn't approve such operations, so UFC had to wait for Eisenhower to effect the outcome it wanted.) The book is a model historical work, heavily footnoted, clearly written, factually presented & overwhelmingly upsetting. It has a chapter on Freud's nephew Edward Bernays, an early PR practioner, hired by United Fruit to advance its goals in the USA. Bernays did powerful work & was probably instrumental in the coup taking place by building public sentiment against the Arbenz government. The greatest & most painful irony was that not long after the coup, which was instigated, basically on behalf of United Fruit, the US government, concerned that it would seem a little "too convenient" to have overthrown a popularly elected president on behalf of a banana company, decided to bring an anti-trust suit against UFC, hobbling the company. One has to ask at that point, "What the heck was it all for, then?" The final chapter answers that: An April 1998 report found that 150,000 people had been killed & 50,000 had disappeared in the time since the coup in '54, with 80% of the casualties caused by government forces. What this book reports is sad & disgusting, but the book is well written & fascinating, a model historical account of a pivotal incident in the history of both Guatemala & the USA.--Stacey M. Jones (edited)
The bestselling author of All the Shah's Men and The Brothers tells the astonishing story of the man who oversaw the CIA's secret drug and mind- control experiments of the 1950s and 60s.
Traces the events leading to the 1953 coup in Iran and it's consequences, discussing the covert operations under the joint authority of Eisenhower and Churchill involving prime minister Mossadegh and CIA officer Roosevelt.
The narrative follows Paul Kagame's transformation from a refugee to a leader who orchestrated a remarkable covert operation to reclaim his homeland. Alongside his comrades, he executed a bold plan that ultimately led to their rise to power. Once in control, Kagame's administration astonished the international community by successfully stabilizing and rejuvenating a nation ravaged by conflict, showcasing resilience and strategic prowess in the face of adversity.
An award-winning author tells the stories of the audacious American politicians, military commanders, and business executives who took it upon themselves to depose monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers of other countries with disastrous long-term consequences.
The book offers an in-depth exploration of Cuba's complex relationship with the United States, weaving together insights from popular culture, the economy, and politics. Through original photography and firsthand reporting from Havana and Miami, the author examines the influence of the Cuba Lobby and reflects on the legacy of the Cuban Revolution nearly 50 years later. It critically assesses the challenges and options for the next American president, concluding with thoughts on potential policy changes in the wake of Fidel Castro's death.
In this concise and readable book Stephen Kinzer takes the reader on a tour of modern Middle Eastern history, highlighting the errors, alliances and betrayals all acted out for what was shortsightedly seen as being in the interest of Western states.