Introduction

In recent years, based on new insights and newly discovered sources, authors have gained a deeper understanding of the enormous scope and scale of the Cold War. Beginning from Europe and extending to East and Southeast Asia, it focuses attention on the overlapping local, national, regional, and international rivalries that ultimately divided the world into two opposing camps. By focusing on cities or cityscapes, the landscapes of cities the authors show how space can be used as a signifier in demarcating the two rival camps and in registering local differences and nuances. Although the Cold War in East Asia was less intense compared to Europe, the authors in part two of the book argue that East Asian cities underwent the same degree of change due to the bipolar system.