7.9 notes

Causation in Global Conflict

• Quotes and Essential Question:
  • Albert Einstein stated, "As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable."
  • Essential Question: What was the relative significance of the causes of global conflict from 1900 to the present?

Changes in Global Order (20th Century)

• The 20th century marked a shift in global political dominance from Western Europe to the United States due to WWI and WWII.
• The collapse of major empires: Ottoman, Russian, and Qing experienced internal decay and revolutions.
• In many regions, calls for democracy emerged, often leading to totalitarian regimes amid economic depression and political upheaval.

Political Causes of Global Conflict in the 20th Century

• World War I: Considered the first "total war" due to industrial-scale conflict.
  • Major advancements in weaponry:
  • Long-range artillery, poison gas, flamethrowers, and machine guns.
  • Key Causes:
  • Balance of Power: Established alliances escalated the conflict when countries honored commitments.
  • Nationalism: Serbian nationalism acted as a key trigger in the Balkans (the "powder keg of Europe").
  • Arms Race: Increased militarization among great powers raised the likelihood of war.
  • Imperial Rivalries: Conflict over resources heightened tensions.

Participation of Colonial Soldiers in WWI

• Notable contributions from colonies:
  • Canada - 418,218
  • Australia - 331,814
  • New Zealand - 112,223
  • India - 1,500,000

Continuation into World War II

• Fascism: Extreme nationalism led to aggressive expansion by Germany and Italy, provoking conflict with Western democracies.
• In Asia, Japan's imperial ambitions led to conflict with the U.S., ultimately causing the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Economic Causes of Global Conflict

• Imperialism: Competition for markets and resources intensified conflicts.
  • Notable conflicts rooted in economic motives: Opium Wars, First and Second Sino-Japanese War, Crimean War.
  • Example: Japan's territorial ambitions and U.S. embargoes led to military confrontations.
• Economic Depression (1929-1939): Created a climate for the rise of populist leaders promising economic recovery, e.g., Adolf Hitler.

Effects of Global Conflict in the 20th Century

• Advances in science and technology drastically changed warfare:
  • Casualty Statistics: Unprecedented loss of life due to targeted bombings and new military technologies, including the atomic bomb.
• Civilian Deaths:
  • WWII caused immense civilian casualties:
  • Soviet Union - 5,360,000
  • Poland - 500,000
  • India - 2,400,000
  • Civilian deaths resulted from military actions and policies of extermination (e.g., Holocaust).

Political Changes Post-Conflict

• Mexico: Mexican Revolution led to political and economic reforms.
• Regime Changes: Post-WWI resulted in the collapse of empires and rise of totalitarian regimes in Germany and Italy influenced by the Treaty of Versailles.
• Emerging demands for self-determination led to independence movements in colonies as Western powers weakened post-conflict.
  • Example: India gained independence in 1947 through passive resistance, subsequently partitioned into India and Pakistan.

Shifts in Global Power Dynamics

• The United States emerged as a world leader following both World Wars, contrasting with the weakened European powers.
• The rivalry with the Soviet Union led to a bipolar world order in the latter half of the 20th century.

Reflection on Causes of Global Conflict

• Important considerations when evaluating causes include:
  • Is it an underlying or surface cause?
  • Did multiple causes contribute equally?
  • Is there a chain of cause-and-effect leading to conflict?

Evaluation of Perspectives on Totalitarianism

• Economic View (Hayek): Views totalitarianism as arising from economic control loss in democracies.
• Political View (Friedrich & Brzezinski): Attributes to post-WWI nationalism and responses to global depression.
• Historical View (Shirer): Connects the roots of Nazism to Germany’s historical context.
• Sociological View (Moore): Focuses on social structures leading to either democracy or dictatorship.

Historical Reasoning and Essay Writing**

• Construct well-supported arguments using evidence from diverse historical contexts.
• Aim for complex understandings that show interconnections, or disruptions in historical trends.