In The Limits of Detente: The United States, the Soviet Union, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1969-1973, an analysis of the origins of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Craig Daigle, assistant professor at the City College of New York draws on newly released documents to shed new light on how the war resulted not only from tension and competing interest between Arabs and Israelis, but also from policies adopted in both Washington and Moscow. Between 1969 and 1973, the Middle East in general and the Arab-Israeli conflict in particular emerged as a crucial Cold War battleground where the limits of detente appeared in sharp relief.

By prioritizing Cold War detente, Daigle shows how the United States and the Soviet Union fueled regional instability that ultimately undermined the prospects of a lasting peace agreement in the Middle East. Daigle further argues that as detente increased tensions between Arabs and Israelis, these tensions in turn negatively affected U.S.-Soviet relations.

Tim McDonnell, program associate with the Wilson Center's Nuclear Proliferation International History Project will chair the event.

To purchase the book visit the Yale University Press website.