World Between The World Wars

Nationalism is a patriotic feeling or a political ideology that implies an individual identifying with one's nation or becoming extremely attached to it.

The ideology of nationalism was a positive impulse. It was the foundation of modern nation states and the force behind the unification of Germany and Italy. It can also take a different way by infusing a feeling of superiority over other countries. This was used to create pride in the mind of oneself and hatred towards other countries. This was also used to spread the feeling of hatred in European states in the 19th century. Aggressive nationalism was a major factor which led to World War I. It had grown in countries like Germany and Italy. Europeans became sure that their nations and government were correct and their military was superior which would win over any war. This nationalist pride of France was hurt by Germany. This nationalism influenced nation states to fight in a war to show their pride and patriotism in the world wars.

Even though there were many immediate causes for the two World Wars, there were many other causes that contributed to this. Some of these causes are mentioned below:

1. The immediate provocation for World War 1 was the murder on 28th June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian fanatic.

2. Austria immediately declared War on Serbia.

3. Serbia was with allied Powers like UK, France, and Russia. The Austrian attack on it made these allied powers to come to Serbia's rescue.

4. Austria was allied with central powers like Germany and Italy. This marked the beginning of World War I.

5. The immediate cause for World War II was Hitler’s invasion of Poland as punishment for refusing to hand over the port of Danzig to Germany.

6. Aggressive nationalism, imperialism, militarism, secret alliances and ideological failure of the league of nations were also major factors that led to the foundation of world wars.

7. After the first world war, these causes continued to lead the way to the second world war. Other causes include dissatisfaction of Germany with the legacy of World War I.

8. A large industrial complex had come into function which promoted the idea of wars between countries as the only solution to conflicts.

9. Most of these causes are prevalent to the current situation as well. The nationalism in its extreme form can often infuse the feeling of superiority over other nation. This can create pride in oneself and hatred towards other.

The Russian Revolution brought about many social changes in the country. These changes are mentioned below :

1. USSR under the leadership of Stalin tried to end small-scale production by forcing all small and large farmers to surrender their lands and join collective farms.

2. In this system, all the land, machinery, and raw material were pooled. The farmers worked together and distributed the produce among members. The main idea was to shift from small-scale farming to large-scale farming to use new techniques extensively on a large scale.

3. Many farmers resisted this, leading to imprisonment and even death. This also led to widescale starvation and famine.

4. All industries were owned by the state which did not allow the free market and sold the industrial products to the consumers directly.

5. A proper schooling system was developed. Arrangements were also made for factory workers to enter universities. Creches were set up for children of working women in factories.

6. USSR achieved full employment and improved the standard of living of its citizens.

7. Universalization of literacy and primary education was also achieved.

The challenges faced by Russia are mentioned below :

1. In 1917, Russia and Germany were at war.

2. The economy had deteriorated.

3. The British, French and US refused to recognize their government

4. The people widely resisted some of this changes.

The Great Depression began in 1928 and ended in 1939. It led to a worldwide decline in demand and consequently closure of many factories. This declined the purchasing power of the people which led to a further fall in demand and ultimately prices. It caused massive unemployment all over the world. It began with a stock market collapse in the US but spread all over the world. Different economists had a different point of view about the cause behind the Great Depression and measures to prevent its recurrence. Some of these viewpoints are highlighted below :

1. Marxist economists said that this type of crisis is an essential nature of capitalism and

2. can be removed only with the establishment of socialism.

3. JM Keynes argued that the state has an important role to keep the economy going. If it fails to intervene effectively, it might lead to depression.

4. Keynes argued that when demand falls, the state should invest funds and increase employment opporutinites. This will help the people to earn money and increase demand for goods in the market. This will help the economy to revive from depression.

5. Austrian economists argued that the great depression was the result of the monetary policies of the federal revenue during 1920.

6. Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz wrote a book “A Monetary History of the United States’. In this book, they have said that the cause for great depression is the fall of the money supply.

7. Other neoclassical macroeconomists have said that the cause behind this depression was the different labor market policies.

Although each viewpoint has some significance, I agree with Keynes. The state had no control over the demand and supply market forces. The governments of capitalist countries were hesitant to intervene in the economy and this is the main cause behind the crisis.

The ideology of Nazis depended on majoritarian principles. They resorted to mass killing of minority communities to build racial superiority of Germans. The main target of Nazi were the Jews in Germany which were approximately 5 lakh in number.

The Jews were persecuted in the following ways :

1. In 1933, New Germany laws forced Jews out of their civil service jobs, universities and law court positions and other areas of public life.

2. The laws proclaimed at Nuremberg in April 1933, made Jews second-class citizens.

3. Jews could not attend public schools go to theatres, cinema, vacation resorts etc.

4. The new anti-Jewish regulations segregated Jews further and made daily life very difficult for them.

5. Anti–Nazi Jews were sent to the death camps and were killed by gassing in gas chambers or shooting with rifles in gas chambers.

6. About 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust.

The two main measures that were taken under the idea of the welfare state under the Great Depression are :

1. Roosevelt introduced the social security system in US. It established a system for the welfare of the State. Under this system, various measures were introduced such as universal retirement pensions, Unemployment Insurance, special benefits for the handicapped and needy children in families.

2. Britain also introduced unemployment insurance, old age pension schemes, sickness coverage, health schemes, childcare etc. This led to the idea of a welfare state in which the state had the responsibility to ensure a certain basic minimum dignified life for all citizens.

The USSR also followed same measures of welfare.

Germany faced many challenges during the Great Depression. It was deeply hit by this phase and suffered immensely.

1. The level of unemployment increased to a great level. It reached 30% of the total working population in 1932.

2. Many industries, mills, and production units were shut down on a large scale basis.

3. The lack of capital, prevailing in the economy led to a fall in the aggregate demand of produced goods.

4. Since there were no job opportunities, the youth of the country engaged themselves in criminal activities.

5. The currency lost its value which created tension among the middle class. They salaried employees and pensioners, saw their savings decline.

6. The small business of self-employed and retailers was completely destroyed.

7. The agriculture prices fell which affected the peasants.

This helped the Nazi rulers and Hitler to gain from this situation. Hitler was a powerful speaker with great passion and zeal. He promised to restore the dignity of the German people by removing the Versailles treaty and building Germany into a strong nation. He promised to create employment opportunities and help the youth to secure their future. Special focus was given to the middle class which felt threatened with the rise of capitalism. The people believed in him and in 1932, Hitler received 37% votes in Reichstag.Eventually, his Nazi Party became the largest party in the parliament.

Before the rise of Stalin in USSR, the country was facing a Marxist belief. This means that marriage is a bonded institution, were women are held between children and family. This made divorce and abortion, easier and legal. Every 2 marriages witnessed one divorce. After the death of Lenin, in 1924, Stalin stressed that family is a major influence on society. A good family member will lead to a good citizen and ultimately a good communist. In June 1936 he introduced many social policies regarding the same:

1. Registration of marriage became compulsory

2. Abortion was made illegal.

3. Divorce was made difficult

4. The family was declared the basis of Soviet society

5. Mothers with more than two children they declared as the heroines of the revolution.

6. The right to inherit family property (restricted under Lenin) was re-established.

These were introduced also because of the declining birth rate and the increase in the number of men dying in the Second World War. These measures helped to reaffirm the family values and to incentivize the women to have more children.

(i) China and India

ii) Korea and Thailand

1) WAR IS EXPENSIVE BUT PEACE IS PRICELESS

WAR IS DESTRUCTION BUT PEACE IS CONSTRUCTION

WAR KILLS PEOPLE BUT PEACE BUILDS PEOPLE

2) WAR - WhAt is it good foR

3) Let us love the world to peace

4) North, South, East, West

Let peace be our quest.

5) Peace today peace tomorrow

Let us not drown this world in sorrows

6) War is a disgrace

Let’s keep peace in this place

7) Let’s stand hand in hand, to have peace in the land

8) Make peace not war

9) The next war will determine not what is right but what is left

10) Use words not weapons

11) Peace is a weapon through which we can change the whole world

12) There never was a good war or a bad peace

13) Anything war can do, peace can do better

14) Please be willing to stop the killing

15) If war has no evil, then evil has no meaning

16) War, good for few – bad for the most

17) Violence breeds violence. Let’s breed peace.

18) Rich Man’s War, Poor Man’s Blood

19) War: the ignorant against the innocent.

20) A pint of sweat, saves a gallon of blood.