GEN 158 IR~MB/AB

Introduction to the 20th century’s

Major developments and WWII
 Introduction:
In order to understand in a better way not just the
second world war but to every development, incident
and issue in this period, one must have a look on the
changing socio-economic and political landscape and
all the developments which were taking place at that
time. Now firstly look at the following developments
became highly apparent on the surface soon after the
end of WWI and secondly, we will be discussing about
the WWII, causes and major developments paved the
way to the war, how war came to an end and what sort
of impacts it left behind
 For closer contacts and interdependence between
political communities or states permanent institutions
began to be established such as IGO’s and NGO’s.
Rapid Growth of trade and finance.
Advancement in technology, communication and
transport .
Period of confrontation, agitation and wars among
the superpowers due to several reasons.
Decline of colonial empire as many colonies got
independence from the European clutches.
Rise of U.S and Soviet Union replacing European
powers.
 The transition from a multipolar to a bipolar
international system after 1945: a society with three or
more great powers is multipolar, a society with two
great powers is bipolar.
- A transition from a world of empires to a world of
states.
 World War II
- World War II is also called as Second World War or global
war that involved virtually every part of the world during the
years 1939–45.
- The war was in many respects a continuation of WWI and
due to a many disputes unsettled by it.

The principal belligerents

Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan
Allied Powers: France, Great Britain, the United States and
the Soviet Union
 Long Standing Causes
Militarism: Militarism means glorifying military power or
the desire of keeping a large standing army. Militarism is
also standing for a belief or the desire of a government or a
people that a state should maintain a strong military
capability and to use it aggressively to expand national
interests and/or values.
It was also the major cause for the breakout of WWII. Soon
after the first world war, Japan eagerly appeared to raise its
military might and unstoppably took part in the race of
militarism. It became a serious threat to the integrity and
global peace as was Germany in the first world war.
 Long Standing Causes
Imperialism: It means getting involved politically and
economically in other countries in order to gain wealth and
power and promote their interests.
Great Britain and France were the only European countries
which pursued the policy of imperialism. But now, Germany
and Japan seemed to be the most dominant player of this
game. If we look at the pre-war events, both started occupying
many European territories. This desire for a greater empire led
to an increase in confrontation that helped push the world into
WWII.
 Long Standing Causes
Politics of Alliances: Politics of Alliances also played a very
significant role in the eruption of second world war. The end of
first world war did not provide a ground to be avoided this style
of politics. The changed socio-economic and political condition
of the Europe, prior to the second world war, pushed the
European powers to foster overt or covert alliances as it was
seemed prior to the first world war. This time, the principal
belligerents were the Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan
later joined by Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania and the Allied
Powers—France, Great Britain, the United States and the Soviet
Union.
 Long Standing Causes
Nationalism: It means the feeling that specific nation, language
or culture is superior to all others. This sense of superiority was
highly dominant if we critically evaluate the personality
analysis of Adolf Hitler. He had a rhetoric power and knew the
weaknesses of his nation. He used this tool to reorganize his
scattered dead German nation. It was the nationalism that
brought Hitler into power who later proved to be the most
important cause behind the eruption of second world war.
 Some other Causes
The unjust policies of Treaty of Versailles: The treaty of
Versailles shows that the victorious Allies imposed serious
penalties on the Germans who were in no position to object. Huge
indemnities were imposed, and their colonies were taken away
from them. This created a sense of hatred in the minds of German
people and fueled resentment for unjust or discriminatory attitude.
This situation cashed by Adolf Hitler who came into power to
take revenge from the victorious powers.
 Some other Causes
Failure of the League of Nations: President Wilson of the
United States really did intend that the war should be the war to
end wars. For this purpose, he pushed strongly for an
international body, consisting of the major states, which would
be a forum for discussion and the prevention of war and that
was a League of Nations. Wilson was its prime advocate, the
United States Congress refused to join, which was a serious
blow to the League's credibility and unfortunately it failed to
prevent the world from the second world war.
 Some other Causes
Role of Right-Wing Nationalists: From immediately after
the First World War, right-wing nationalists, resentful at the
provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, organized and prospered
in the context of poverty and international humiliation. The
Nazi party under Adolf Hitler became dominant amongst the
nationalist right and in 1933, despite mixed electoral success,
came to power to take the revenge whatever did by the
victorious powers.
 Some other Causes
German’s sense of superiority: The Nazis being
Germans (who followed the doctrine of Hitler)
believed in a doctrine of the superiority of the white
Anglo-Saxons over everyone else and this doctrine
provided a pretext to Hitler to rule all over the world
and expel Jewish community from the Germany
because he used to think that they are impure people,
and we need to get rid of these people
 Some other Causes
Rise of dictatorship in Italy and Germany: The dictatorship
of the Fascist party, under the leadership of Mussolini, was
established in Italy in 1922. The dictatorship of the Nazi party
was established in Germany after Hitler came to power in 1933.
Failure of Disarmament: The task of preparing a plan for
reduction of armaments was
entrusted to the League of Nation. No success could be
achieved in this area. Many commissions were appointed to
achieve this task but could not succeed,
 Some other Causes
Policy of Appeasement: England and France ignored the acts of
aggression by Germany and Italy and succumbed to their pressure.
Immediate cause:
• Invasion of Poland by Germany on 1st September 1939 which
became the immediate cause behind the eruption of second world war.
Turning point during War:
In 1941, two development took place or major mistakes committed
by Germany and Japan which changed the whole scenario and
provided a sense of relief to Britain and France to reorganize
themselves to push back the Axis powers. One is the attempt to invade
Russia by Germany and the other one is the attack on Pearl Harbor, an
American port, by Japan.
 How war came to an end
The Second World War ended with the dropping of two atomic
bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On 29th
April 1945 Germany and on 15th August 1945 Japan surrendered
to the Allied Powers and this way war came to an end.
 Criticism:
•Criticism of the so-called appeasement policy and the
reluctance to stand up to Hitler earlier is very significant.

•There was little enthusiasm for a strong anti-Hitler policy

among the allied forces that could prevent the war.

•There was some feeling in Britain and France, not totally

irrational, that the so-called appeasement policy might work.

•It is argued that an earlier confrontation with Hitler would

have prevented the war.
 Impacts of WWII:
1.The End of the European Age:
With the end of second world war, the dominance of the European powers such
as Great Britain or France whose world order was dominating on every global
affair eventually came to end. This war marked the end of European age and the
rise of American and Soviet Russia.
2.Rise of Cold War:
After the second world war, a cold war was started between the U.S and Soviet
Union to establish their order or system all over the world. It was waged on
multiple fronts such as socio-political and economic. The rivalry between U.S
and Soviet Union was lasted till the disintegration of the latter which witnessed
the rise of U.S on the global landscape as a sole superpower.
3.The Birth of UN:
One of the momentous results of the war was the birth of the United Nations
Organization which aimed to foster international co-operation and prevent future
conflicts.
 Impacts of WWII:
4.The Start of Decolonization:
With the end of the war and the demise of the European Great Power
System the process of decolonization occurred. The post-war world
witnessed the end of colonialism in Africa and Asia. France and Great
Britain, the great European colonizing nations were gradually forced to
give up their empires due to the cost of maintaining colonies, the
development of violent and/or peaceful national liberation movements
and foreign pressure coming from the US and USSR.
5.Redrawing of Borders:
Several European and Asian countries had to bear the brunt of this war.
The territorial borders of European countries were redrawn. The biggest
beneficiary of this redrawing was the Soviet Union, which annexed parts
of Finland, Poland, Japan, Germany, and some independent states to its
territories.
 Impacts of WWII:
6.End of Dictatorship:
The World War 2 marked the end of dictatorship in Europe as the
Mussolini was captured and shot dead on April 28, 1945, and the Hitler
committed suicide on April 30, 1945. Thus, the end of second world war
cleansed the political map from the dictatorships.

Conclusion