...face of adversity; we have constructed certain ideals such as personal freedom, individuality, love, and altruism. Since the beginning of history, we have struggled to find truth and understanding. People like Jesus Christ, Siddhartha Gautama, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, Albert Einstein, George Washington (and so many others), have helped to create a model of human ambition, have helped us to better recognize our underlying purpose in the universe. We have in our history the examples of Ancient Greece, the Enlightenment, and the Romantic Movement. We have created music, logic, poetry, art, religion, science, and mathematics in order to assist us in our quest to dissect creation and find some sort of semblance of meaning that might justify our existence. The list of our accomplishments is immeasurably vast. However, man might have proved that he can reach for ideals, but he has not proved that he can maintain them. We may have climbed mountains, but we have not been able to live for long in such high places. Despite our accomplishments, humanity’s failings have been just as extensive. Our history is also scarred with a long list of wars, injustices, unnecessary deaths, prejudices, hatreds, and disappointments. The pinnacle of our shortcomings, the end-point to our intellectual development as a species, can best be understood in the context of our World Wars. Although humanity has always lived side-by-side with war, never before in our history has so much widespread...
Words: 2315 - Pages: 10
...Under the Soviet Union, the Communist Party rose after World War 1 when Russia had to withdraw from the war due to internal struggles. Each ruler had a different idea of what a communist country should look like but Stalin’s tactics were the most brutal and oppressive. His personal distrust of the people around him led to purges and while he did manage to accelerate the USSR’s economic standpoint, it came at a high cost leading to widespread starvation. While essentially the communists planned to destroy the bourgeoisie to create a classless society, and thus equality, the implementation of such a plan was poor and gave the opportunity for a mere secretary of the party to rise to totalitarian rule. While World War I was coming to an...
Words: 984 - Pages: 4
...To what extent was the Cold War a result of World War II? Often, the Cold War is said to have been a result of World War 2, but the question arises of whether there would have been an inevitable confrontation between the USSR and the US without the Second World War. World War II ended with the US and the USSR as the only remaining world superpowers. The ravaged post WWII Europe provided perfect conditions for imperialism by other countries; the war created two superpowers with polarizing ideals. Due to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the concern over post-war settlements, their alliance broke and the ideals of communism and capitalism turned on each other in an effort to control the influence in Europe. The arguments pertaining to the Cold War being the cause of the Second World War has been going on for a long time and historians can’t seem to agree one perspective. The cold war was, to a certain extent, the result of the Second World War. World War II saw the union of the western democracies and the USSR due to the desire to defeat a common enemy: fascism and Germany. Once the war was over, this interdependency ended as well, and the result was two victorious superpowers with totally different ideologies. The defeat of fascism meant the ideologies of capitalism and communism were left to clash. The US used the atomic bomb on Japan without informing her ally, the USSR. Not only was this lack of contact a problem, but it also marked the start of a deadly new arms race...
Words: 971 - Pages: 4
...Despite the severe social, economic, and political casualties of World War II, Europe emerged from the ashes of the war as a robust economic powerhouse that could meet the needs of its deprived populace. Although in the process many states put off political reforms for decades, Europe as a whole developed political systems and organizations that value civic and human rights, and serve as a model for democracy around the world. Over the course of the last half of the 20th century, Europe combated Fascist dictators, economic recessions, and revolutions within African and Asian colonies. Together with American economic aid, Europe managed to overcome these obstacles and establish itself as an economic and political powerhouse. Several factors led Europe to rebuild from the rubble of the war, including the sheer extent of destruction caused, the ideological division of Europe during...
Words: 1764 - Pages: 8
...largely at an end, with the world settling on liberal democracy after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Fukuyama predicted the eventual global triumph of political and economic liberalism. "What we may be witnessing is not just the end of the Cold War, or the passing of a particular period of post-war history, but the end of history as such... That is, the end point of mankind's ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government." According to Fukuyama, since the French Revolution, democracy has repeatedly proven to be a fundamentally better system (ethically, politically, economically) than any of the alternatives. The most basic (and prevalent) error in discussing Fukuyama's work is to confuse 'history' with 'events'. Fukuyama does not claim at any point that events will stop happening in the future. What he is claiming is that all that will happen in the future (even if totalitarianism returns) is that democracy will become more and more prevalent in the long term, although it may have 'temporary' setbacks (which may, of course, last for centuries). He believes that the European Union more accurately reflects what the world will look like at the end of history than the contemporary United States HUNGTINGTON’S FUTURE The Clash of Civilizations In 1993, Professor Huntington provoked great debate "The Clash of Civilizations?",. Its description of post–Cold War geopolitics contrasted...
Words: 563 - Pages: 3
...mountain by the mid-1800s. The need to modernize Russia was apparent from the defeat during the Crimea War 1853 – 1856 that saw Russian borders erode back to eastern territories which left unattended defense against the French and British navy that could attack from the Black Sea. As with any monarch, reforms came from whom the ruler was but the reforms that the Russian people needed and paved the way to modernization first were the ideas of Peter the Great, expanded upon under Catherine the Great, and materialized during Alexander II’s wearing of the crown. First notion to mimic western cultures first came to pass during Peter the Great reign. Already established as a great land empire, Peter I did not changed ruling policies of past emperors. He did add changes in economy and culture by benchmarking western innovations. Peter’s first major change was in his military structure. Peter recruited bureaucrats from outside of the aristocracy. This led to the creation of his secret police force which kept the aristocracy in check. Peter the Great also created the Imperial navy; the council of nobles was disbanded and replaced by provincial governors that Peter was able to control. The tax system was reformed to place more burdens on the serfs. Serfs began to work in the manufacturing industries and operations. Peter decreed that nobles had to have shave beards and dress in western style. Finally, Peter attempted to invest in his countries future by promoting mathematics and technical...
Words: 1644 - Pages: 7
...Adeola Adegbite March 21st 2013 African International Politics Professor Throup Failure of Organizations Throughout modern history, Western powers such as the United States and Europe have always assisted weaker nations in order for those countries to maintain internal stability and external relations with other nations. Most often, Western powers to aid states with failing democratic systems or nations that are strategic allies in certain regions of the world. For Western powers, it is important to promote the ideals of Democracy, and assist other nations deemed as crucial to Democracy’s development. Democracies and its expansion are vital for several reasons Democratic nations foster peace and stability. Following World War II, the United States believed it was imperative to sustain and support Western Europe. At the time Western Europe was facing the encroachment of the Soviet Union and its communist ideologies. The United States saw its support for Western Europe as essential in order to preserve their alliance, and most importantly to continue strengthening and expanding democratic ideals. However, as of the past twenty years, when it comes sub-Saharan Africa, Western nations are not nearly as concerned about a states internal or external stability. For example, countries such as Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and many other sub-Saharan countries are in utter turmoil, but the West has turned a blind eye. The burden now falls on organizations like the United Nations, Organization...
Words: 2340 - Pages: 10
...Modern Europe During the 14th and 15th centuries, Europe experienced a period of heightened intellectual and artistic activity. This rebirth of classical learning is called the Renaissance. The 15th century marked the beginning of the age of exploration. Christopher Columbus and other European seamen opened the way for increased world trade and great colonial empires. The cities on or near the Atlantic replaced those of Italy as the commercial centers of Europe. Rich merchants began to rival the nobles in wealth and power. A growing abundance of money permitted kings to hire officials and soldiers, gradually removing the need for feudal relationships. World known by Europeans in the 14th century This map shows how much of the world's lands and seas were known to Europeans by the A.D. 1300's. Areas that Europeans knew about included northern Africa, far northeastern North America, much of Asia, the Mediterranean Sea, and parts of the North Atlantic and Indian oceans. The 16th century brought the Reformation, when many Christians rejected the authority of the pope and the Protestant movement was begun. The 17th and 18th centuries formed a period of savage wars by which the various European monarchs sought to increase their territories. England became a limited monarchy and aspirations for political freedom appeared in other parts of Europe. Low Countries in the 16th century. The Low Countries, including most of present-day Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, came under Spanish...
Words: 1581 - Pages: 7
...F.A. Hayek’s The Road to Serfdom was written under the shadow of war in 1944. While the outcome of World War II was still in doubt, Hayek noticed a troubling trend in Western society. Lingering fears of the economic crash from 1929 couple with the rise of fascism and Nazism in Germany were leading people to embrace the philosophy of communism. Capitalism and free markets were viewed to be in the service of Germany’s fascism, leading to the rise of the Nazis. Central planning was seen as a remedy for the chaos of the free markets, which had recently plunged the world into the Great Depression. The ideals of free market capitalism were pit against those of fascism, socialism, and communism, and World War II became not just a war of nations, but also a war of political philosophy. Hayek set out to tout the virtues of freedom and classical liberal democracy, warning that all other roads only led to some form of slavery to the state. In the Road to Serfdom, Hayek links the different form of freedom together, arguing that the loss of freedom in either the personal, political, or economic realm inevitably leads to a loss of freedom in the others. A cascade effect occurs as more power is transferred to the government. For example, in a system such as communism, economic freedom is eschewed in favor of central planning. Difficult problems in society may be turned over to “experts” to solve rapidly rather than waiting for the consensus of elected officials, thus resulting in...
Words: 665 - Pages: 3
...World War II: Hitler’s Jewish Genocide It is regarded as the most widespread and deadliest conflict in human history, killing more than 50 million people. World War II was the largest armed conflict in history, spanning the entire world, and involving more countries than any other war. The war has been generally believed to start on September 1, 1939 and lasting until September 2, 1945. Historians are still arguing about the exact cause of World War II, however the common belief of fault resides on the implementation of Adolf Hitler. Hitler was possessed by a passionate set of ideals to expand Germany, and with his election as German chancellor in January 1933, marked the start of an accelerating progression towards world war. Under the dominion of Hitlers ambitions, Germany invaded western Poland as a result of the intransigence between both countries. World War II ravaged civilians more severely than any previous conflict, and served as the justification for genocidal killings by Nazi Germany, under the order of Hitler. To fully understand how Hitler attained the support of a nation to agree with his ideology, one must know the conditions before the wake of World War II, and how Hitler instilled influential ideas of national pride. In this essay, I intend on showing why it is important to understand a certain aspect of World War II. I will first focus on establishing the importance of knowing what events led Germany into the circumstances it was in prior to...
Words: 2082 - Pages: 9
...been one of the most educationally successful countries on the world, yet, its success comes with a long period of modifications and changes to its education system. When European countries travelled throughout the world with their advanced technology and science, Japan was still struggling with its weak and corrupted government. In 1853, Tokugawa era, Commodore Matthew C. Perry of U.S. navy went to Japan and forced it to allow its merchants to trade with foreign merchants, apparently with greater benefit for foreign merchants. (OECD) Dazed by this event, a large number of low-ranking samurais were resented with the powerlessness of the Emperor with foreign “threats”. Due to this,...
Words: 785 - Pages: 4
...y Slide 1: Soviet Revolution Slide 2: 1905 - First Liberal Movements • ‘Bloody Sunday’: Workers wanted an improvement of their living conditions and claimed the necessity of a National Constituent Assembly. They went out to the front of the palace and showed their disagreement with the Tsar. • Tsar Nicholas II ordered his army to shoot against those people but, because of the population pressure, he had to create a parliament. Slide 3: The Parliament (Duma) had three parties: • The Constitutional Democratic Party – Kadett; • The Socialist Party – Mensheviks; • The Social Democratic Party - Bolsheviks. However, despotism remained in the Soviet regime and the Tsar controlled the parliament. Slide 4: 1917 - February Revolution • Kadett, with the population massive support, created a revolution. Again, Tsar ordered his army to shoot but, this time, they refused to do it. • Tsar’s army joined the revolution and the revolution won power against him. • It was implemented an interim government headed by Kadett. • Kadett intended to implement Liberalism. Slide 5: Monarchic Absolutist Regime -» Interim Government Slide 6: 1917 – October Revolution • Lenin returns from exile with the purpose to end with Liberalism and to impose Communism. • Lenin joins Trotsky and both lead a group of Bolsheviks that assault the parliament. • Through force, the Bolshevik Party dissolved the parliament (violence...
Words: 2199 - Pages: 9
...World War Two Study Guide Fascism: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry,commerce,etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism. A political movement that employs the principles and methods of fascism, especially the one established by Mussolini in Italy. Benito Mussolini: Benito Mussolini served as Italy’s 40th Prime Minister from 1922 until 1943. He is considered a central figure in the creation of Fascism and was both an influence on and close ally of Adolf Hitler during World War II. In 1943, Mussolini was replaced as Prime Minister and served as the head of the Italian Social Republic until his execution by Italian partisans in 1945. Adolf Hitler: Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. Hitler was responsible for starting World War II and for killing more than 11 million people during the Holocaust. He was know as the Führer of the Third Reich. As dictator of Germany, Hitler wanted to increase and strengthen the German army as well as expand Germany's territory. Although these things broke the terms of the Versailles Treaty, the treaty that officially ended World War I, other countries allowed him to do so. Since the terms of the Versailles Treaty had been harsh, other countries found it easier to be lenient than risk another bloody European war. When the Nazis attacked Poland World War II began. Nazism: "Nazi"...
Words: 2000 - Pages: 8
...history assessment During the cold war the USA and USSR had policies that contributed to the conflict. The policies had an overall affect on the world as it prepared for what seemed like World War III. After World War II the two remaining superpowers were Russia and America, and there was a struggle for political and military superiority from 1947 to 1991. There was no major large scale fighting between the two nations however their ideals and movements were used to support countries and fight each other through proxy wars such as Vietnam and Korea. The world looked as if it was on the brink of thermonuclear destruction as the threat of nuclear missiles became more apparent and as America did its best to stop them without starting a war. Families stockpiled food and waited for the two nations policies to drag them into war and inevitable, to death. Australia, along with many Western countries, feared the communistic spread as if it were an epidemic. Post-war propaganda scared the Australian public, telling them that all safety and way of life was at threat by the communist countries in Asia and as each one fell to communism, Australia was one step closer annihilation. The picture in Source A shows not only the USSR’s policy in creating a buffer of friendly states to protect themselves but also the Western fears that Communism would...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...WAR is a human Nature War: is an organized and often prolonged conflict that is carried out by states or non-state actors. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, social disruption, and economic destruction. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political communities, and therefore is defined as a form of political violence or intervention. The set of techniques used by a group to carry out war is known as warfare. An absence of war is usually called peace. Etymology: The English word war derives from the late Old English (c.1050) words wyrre and werre; the Old North French werre; the Frankish werra; and the Proto-Germanic werso. The denotation of war derives from the Old Saxon werran, Old High German werran, and the German verwirren: “to confuse”, “to perplex”, and “to bring into confusion”.Another posited derivation is from the Ancient Greek barbaros, the Old Persian varhara, and the Sanskrit varvar and barbara. In German, the equivalent is Krieg; the equivalent Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian words for "war" is guerra, derived from the Germanic werra (“fight”, “tumult”).Etymologic legend has it that the Romanic peoples adopted a foreign, Germanic word for "war", to avoid using the Latin bellum, because, when sounded, it tended to merge with the...
Words: 2085 - Pages: 9
