International Cooperation in Cold War Europe : The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 1947-64

Formed in 1947, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) was the first postwar international organization dedicated to cooperation in Europe along the boundaries set by the Cold War. Linking the universalism of the UN to European regionalism, both Cold War superpowers, the USA and the Soviet Union, were founding members of the UNECE. This book provides a unique study of this important but hitherto under-researched international organization. Incorporating research on the Cold War, the history of internationalism and European integration, Stinsky weaves these different threads of historical enquiry into a single analytical narrative.

Building on the League of Nations' difficult heritage, and in an increasingly challenging political environment, the UNECE's mission was to facilitate European cooperation across the Iron Curtain. With a number of competitor organizations set against it, the UNECE managed to carve out a niche for itself, setting norms and standards that still have an impact on the everyday lives of millions in Europe and beyond today. Working against an overwhelming geopolitical trend, UNECE succeeded in bridging the Cold War divide on several occasions, and maintained a broad system of contacts across the Iron Curtain.

“'This book promises to fill a gap – and a surprising one at that – on the UNECE, which has gotten attention in general, but not as a stand-alone organization. It excavates from largely forgotten, or more accurately, neglected history, a surprisingly influential organization that shaped Europe, the Cold War, and the notion of internationalism.'” —Tom Zeiler, Professor of History, University of Colorado Boulder, USA

“'This is a well-written, clear proposal for a book that sets out to fill a specific gap. [It] is clearly structured, draws on significant archival research and makes a number of significant and worthwhile contributions.'” —Jessica Reinisch, Director of the Centre for the Study of Internationalism and Reader in Modern European History, Birkbeck University of London, UK [also series editor of Histories of Internationalism]

“'I consider this book proposal to be of excellent quality. The structure is organized in a consistent way, the proposed analytical approach is sophisticated and multi-layered, and it is backed by a wide range of diverse primary sources; the work will contribute an important missing piece to the historiographies of Cold War, International Organizations, and European integration and cooperation, and has the evident potential to both stimulate the debate in these subfields and set the example for similar enquires.'” —Angela Romano, Senior Research Fellow, European University Institute, Italy

“'Daniel Stinsky has produced a remarkably well-researched history of a unique and important organization, the UN Economic Commission for Europe. Debates about European governance are evergreen but have particular urgency in our present moment.'” —Cyrus Mody, Chair of the History Department and Professor of History, Maastricht University, Netherlands