🌍

Imperialism + WWI and its legacies (Euro100 w:10)

May 21, 2025

Euro100 Lecture - Week 10: European Society and the First World War

Introduction

  • Focus on the impact of World War One on European society.
  • How WWI links to changing ideas of European society's organization.
  • Three-part lecture covering pre-WWI nationalism and imperialism, WWI consequences, and post-WWI settlements.

Nationalism and Imperialism in the Late 19th Century

Nationalism

  • 19th-century nationalism: divided between 'from below' (revolutions of 1848) and 'from above' (state-led unification).
  • Example figures: Giuseppe Garibaldi (Italy, 'from below'), Otto von Bismarck (Germany, 'from above').

European Imperialism

  • Expansion of European empires in the late 19th century.
  • New Imperialism driven by technological advances (Industrial Revolution) and social Darwinism.
  • Social Darwinism: distorted application of Darwin's theories to justify imperialism.
  • Key examples: scramble for Africa, British Empire in India, Belgian Congo.

World War One

Causes

  • Triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
  • Complex alliance systems led to widespread war.

The War

  • Unexpectedly prolonged, leading to trench warfare on the Western Front.
  • Introduction of new military technologies: tanks, airplanes, submarines, and chemical warfare.
  • Total war mobilized entire societies.

Impact

  • Massive social changes, including shifts in gender roles due to women's participation in the workforce.
  • Colonial troops from empires contributed to the war effort.

Post-War Settlement

Treaty of Versailles

  • Harsh terms imposed on Germany, including reparations and war guilt clause.
  • Created resentment in Germany, contributing to instability in the 1920s and 1930s.

New Political Landscape

  • Creation of new nations from former empires: Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, etc.
  • League of Nations founded to prevent future conflicts (discussed further in next week's lecture).

Interwar Period and Rise of Totalitarian Regimes

Economic Instability

  • Hyperinflation in Germany, Great Depression impacts globally.
  • Political instability leads to rise of socialist and fascist movements.

Rise of Fascism

  • Fascism defined by totalitarian rule, nationalism, cult of personality, and acceptance of violence.
  • Key figures: Mussolini in Italy, Hitler in Germany.

Soviet Communism

  • Russian Revolution led to the establishment of the USSR.
  • Stalin's regime characterized by totalitarianism, rapid industrialization, and political purges.

Other Conflicts

  • Spanish Civil War as a precursor to WWII, highlighting ideological battles between fascism and communism.

Conclusion

  • Complex interplay of nationalism, imperialism, and totalitarianism in early 20th-century Europe.
  • Problems from WWI settlement and rise of extremist ideologies set stage for WWII.

  • Next lecture: Focus on WWII, led by Tracy.
  • Final lecture in Week 12.