WW Chapter 20: Collapse at the Center

Naval Enlistment Poster

(Source: https://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/ohio-in-ww1-home-page.html)

Chapter 20: Collapse at the Center

1914 - 1970's

Nationalism trumps all in the twentieth century when Europe forgets everything it once stood for after the enlightenment.  The echoes of the Atlantic Revolutions for social justice were long forgotten and replaced with blind nationalistic rhetoric from power hungry dictators.  Had Europe forgotten everything it believed with respect to the rights of man?  Of popular sovereignty and the ability of a nation to be governed by its own people - those that know best?  Hidden economic agendas, scientific rascism, and new imperial thrusts by countries that felt destined to expand all added to the complexity of a century that played host to two world wars, upwards of 70 million lost lives - military and civilians alike, a great depression, and a realignment of political boundaries resulting in new nations.

You just can't make this stuff up.  Europe fell on flat on its overpriveledged and arrogant face.  And to add insult to injury, it was all self-inflicted.  Once the dust settled, new world powers emerged, namely the United States - largely physically untouched by the wars, in possession of the atomic bomb, and enriched by the military industry, the U.S. was ready to take its place on the world stage as a major power.  Somehow, it all seems so engineered to me after reading everything although much of it was probably serendipitous.  The lack of respect for human life is just mindblowing to me.

What I find interesting is that in a single century all of this happen AND the world rebuilt.  In the span of 100 years we spent half of it fighting and the other half rebuilding only to end up as if nothing ever happened.  It makes me wonder what if we had put as much effort into building instead of fighting - what could we have accomplished in 100 years?

Strayer lightly touches on Europe's economic community and its efforts to unite.  I've always been a fan of the free movement of labor, resources and capital... What if the United States, Canada and Mexico were to have the foresight to build its own eco/political union?  Immigration?  Problem solved.  Trade wars?  Not here.  China?  Not a problem, we'd be a formidable economy.  Just sayin'.