John Girling's book, first published in 1980, investigates the relationship between America and the Third World, centring on three main themes: the nature of American involvement in the Third World, the challenge posed by the rival Super-Power; and the Changes both in US-Soviet relations (from containment to detente) and in the Third World. Three propositions are put forward: that the overriding interest of American foreign policy maker is in the stability of the global system of relationships; that this interest coincides with most Third World elites; and that the global system normally operates peacefully, although continually subject to internal and external challenges.