THE TREHOLT LITERATURE - A STUDY IN POLAR IZATION

This review essay on the Treholt spy case discusses over two dozen boo ks and a large number of articles which deal mainly or exclusively wit h the Treholt spy case. Using an analytical scheme from Cold War histo rians, the literature is divided into traditionalist (main theme: Treh olt the traitor), revisionist (Treholt the unorthodox diplomat), and p ost-revisionist. The latter has yet to be written, but the author spec ulates that increased openness on both sides of the former East-West c onflict may show that Treholt was as much as a victim of the Cold War as an actor, and that the traditionalist and revisionist views in comb ination kept him in jail longer than would have been the case with a m ore balanced interpretation of the evidence.