The book explores the period of Détente from 1968 to 1975, highlighting the efforts of U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev to improve relations between East and West. It examines the subtle shifts in diplomacy that offered a glimmer of hope for ending the Cold War, showcasing the political dynamics and aspirations of both leaders during this pivotal time in history.
Exploring the prophetic timeline of Christ's return, the book delves into the concept of parousia, as outlined by Christ himself. It examines the Old Testament prophecies that foreshadow the Messiah's dual appearances, focusing on themes of salvation and judgment. The first coming is linked to Jesus' death and resurrection, while the New Testament clarifies the distinction between the two Advents. The urgency of the second coming is emphasized, suggesting it could happen at any moment, reflecting on the culmination of world events leading to this pivotal moment.
In a decade, between 1940 and 1950, the old world order collapsed, and a new one was created. Old European empires - France, Germany and the United Kingdom - receded, replaced by two new superpowers - the Soviet Union and the United States. Beyond Europe, a swath of new countries was created: India, Communist China, Israel and the modern Arab states, Indonesia, the Koreas. But there were darker shadows too, cast by the onset of the Cold War: the failure to establish international controls on atomic energy, or the growth of the national security state and modern intelligence apparatus. This era also produced some of the most remarkable statesmen of modern times, including leaders such as Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Truman, de Gaulle, Nehru and Mao Tsetung; diplomats like George Marshall, Dean Acheson, Anthony Eden, Ernest Bevin and Robert Schuman; and international fixers, such as Averell Harriman, John Maynard Keynes, or Jean Monnet. Their stories form the core fabric of this book. Richard Crowder examines their shared ambition to rebuild the world, and launch a second age of globalization.