5.0

Vincent Bevins tells the story of how the Cold War affected the developing world; it is a history that is not taught in schools, nor is widely known by most people. Through the use of eyewitness testimonies, historians, and economists, he unfolds the story that explains how intervention during the 1900s has shaped the world we live in today in terms of economics, social movements, and international relations. Jakarta was a symbol of hope and progress in the developing world after gaining independence from the Dutch. After trying to reject the capitalism of the nations which kept Indonesia captive, the nation tried to create its own path, which was met with violence. Jakarta would soon symbolize the systematic overturning of governments, creation of mass extermination programs, and introduction of state-sponsored terror to eliminate opposition and keep everyone else compliant. I highly recommend this book because the events that shaped the world in the past will reveal themselves again, and it is crucial for people around the world to recognize the signs. Though the interventions into many of these nations have ended or are not nearly as prevalent, the scars still remain in the civilians in the developing world, the economic order that has been created, widespread poverty, and a lack of trust in leaders.