A Very Short Introduction
Oxford University Press, 2nd ed., 2021, ISBN: 9780198859543, 208 pp
Written by: Robert J. McMahon
Reviewed By: Paul Mostafa
Robert J. McMahon's The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction accomplishes an impressive feat. It takes one of the most complex strategic periods in recent history and clearly breaks it down into fewer than 200 pages. This title is part of a series that takes as its hallmark the articulation of complex historical periods into comparatively short but authoritative works. For Australian readers, particularly military professionals, this title on the Cold War serves as a solid historical overview and a useful lens through which to view today's strategic environment, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Cold War as a System, Not Just an Ideology Clash
The book's main argument is clear: the Cold War was not just a clash of capitalism versus communism; it was a systemic contest of international politics shaped by competing security needs, alliances, and mutual threat perceptions. Its roots trace back to the awkward transition from World War Two into a nuclear-armed bipolar world, where the actions and views of both the United States and the Soviet Union were driven by a blend of fear and ideology.
Framing the contest in this way is crucial for modern security professionals. It reminds us that military activities in (what we might call) the ‘competition phase’ (ie. below the level of great power conflict) – such as deterrence, coercion, signalling and proxy engagement – were not a minor detail; they were central. Land power’s role was critical, with armies acting as tools of deterrence and visible symbols of political commitment in contested areas.
McMahon describes the Cold War as a continuous state of competition involving periodic crises, the use of proxies, and the employment of information warfare tactics. This idea will resonate with anyone involved in contemporary strategic thinking. Most should recognise the similarity between the operations, activities and investments discussed in the book and what today we call ‘grey zone’ operations, or integrated campaigning.
Winning the war and winning the subsequent peace are two different problem sets. As McMahon demonstrates in his opening chapters, the conditions for the Cold War were set by the decisions and actions of senior leaders and policy makers on both sides. Contemporary planners and policy makers would do well to study this section closely when considering what ‘winning the peace’ looks like following future conflicts.
Geography Matters: Looking Beyond Europe
Despite its shorter length, the book nevertheless does an admirable job of keeping a global viewpoint. While many Cold War histories are overly focussed on the European theatre or nuclear diplomacy, McMahon also directs readers toward Asia, Africa, and Latin America—places where Cold War competition actually played out on the ground. His coverage of Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan underscores a key point: the decisive contests happened on land, amidst populations, in the complicated political landscape of developing countries.
This is particularly relevant for the Australian Army. Our history in operations—Korea, Malaya, Vietnam—fits well within McMahon's framework of the Cold War as a struggle for influence in a post-colonial world. His explanation of proxy conflicts—and his observations concerning how superpowers compete for influence through client states conflicts—offers a clear parallel to today's Indo-Pacific region, where influence operations, integration with allies, and building partner capacity reflect many of the same patterns.
Ideology and Strategy: The Fuel and the Fog
McMahon skilfully shows how ideology served two functions during the Cold War: it fuelled action while also clouding practical thinking. The belief systems of the superpowers – freedom versus socialism – justified interventions and solidified domestic political narratives. Such ideologies often set up unnecessary roadblocks to practical opportunities for cooperation. Behind these socio-political layers lay recognisable strategic logic, including fears of encirclement, concerns about legitimacy, and competition for allies to generate spheres of influence.
This element of the book demonstrates value beyond historical analysis. It illustrates how ongoing ideological framing can anchor a nation's grand strategy, even as tactical situations change. The feedback loop between ideology and policy serves as a judicious warning for contemporary democracies trying to balance the pursuit and prioritisation of their values and interests in the face of renewed great power competition. Policy makers tempted to frame the current competition between China and the West in ideological terms, for example, as communism versus democracy, should pay particular note to this.
McMahon also examines how deterrence became institutionalised, demonstrating its impact in doctrine, in force structure, and in alliances that were designed to manage risks while projecting determination. For land forces, this synthesis raises a lasting question: how do armies remain relevant in a deterrence-heavy environment dominated by advanced technologies in other domains? McMahon’s historical insights reveal how land forces can adapt by emphasising readiness, forward presence, and the ability to engage in limited conflicts without escalating tensions.
What Works and What is Missing
The format of The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction imposes both discipline and limitations. The writing is sharp, the argument straightforward, and the narrative easy to follow without oversimplification. In under 200 pages, it covers a remarkable range: Europe's division, the transition to the post-colonial era, the arms race, détente, and the final climactic stages of the 1980s.
However, this brevity comes with inevitable downsides. Readers looking for in-depth operational analysis, particularly how Cold War campaigns shaped doctrine, logistics, or combined-arms development, will find little detail. These omissions are intentional; McMahon aims to synthesise rather than provide case studies – and there are plenty of longer works available for those seeking deeper insights. McMahon’s narrative treats the Cold War as a human and institutional struggle instead of a morality play. For professional readers, this balance encourages analytical thinking rather than emotional responses, as characteristic which is often lacking in popular histories.
What This Means for Land Power Today
Strategic competition should not be viewed as an anomaly; it is more of a steady state. The absence of large-scale war does not guarantee stability. Instead, competition shifts into the other elements of national power: diplomatic, informational, and economical. As the book illustrates, that was the case from 1945 to 1990, and it remains true today.
Integrated statecraft remains important today. In the Cold War context, success arose from aligning the diplomacy, development, and defence of great powers. Australia’s current focus on whole-of-government deterrence and regional engagement (as stated in the 2024 National Defence Strategy) is validated here.
Ideology, too, still plays a role. Clearly communicating national narratives, values, and strategic identities shapes how partners and adversaries view capabilities and intentions. Land forces, as a particularly visible tool of policy, are central to this narrative competition – especially when they are seen to be active in the region.
Contemporary practitioners should recognise that today's multipolar world retains more Cold War logic than it has left behind. Modern strategic competition still revolves around posture, credibility, and the ability to engage persistently with populations and partners – which CA has reflected is an essential function of our Army.
Bottom Line
The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction succeeds where many longer histories do not. Its disciplined approach to summarising one of recent history's most complex strategic periods makes the subject accessible to military members and policymakers who need historical insight without overwhelming detail. For defence practitioners, it provides a concise, globally informed framework for understanding how ongoing competition between great powers translates to military posture, alliance dynamics, and regional conflicts. Moreover, it seems to validate the Australian Defence Force’s current methodology for the application of power in integrated campaigning – understand, orchestrate, effect and sustain.
This isn’t a book about tactics or campaigns; instead, it highlights the logic behind them. In a time when the Australian Army is again adjusting to a world of systemic competition, McMahon's clear analysis serves as a worthy reminder that history may not repeat itself, but it often rhymes, especially for those who operate on land.
About the Reviewer
Colonel Paul Mostafa is a serving Army Officer who has served in both Special Operations and the conventional force. He is currently appointed as the Commandant of the Defence Special Operations Training and Education Centre.
