The Impact of Second World War on European Societies - Coursework Example

The Impact of Second World War on European societies. Second World War left more than two million people dead in war and more than USD 5 billion damaged. The impact on the psyche of the society was tremendous. Every one had to talk about the war that raged for nearly ten years destroying to shambles most part of Europe, Asia and parts of northern Africa. The people could feel the heat of the violence and the continuing growth of technology and science in escalating violence across the world. On more than one occasion, there were symbols of such violence which were totally rejected by the society. The sudden death kind of ending to the World War II with the atomic bombs exploding in Japan and large scale death and destruction in Europe became a great resentment for every one. The impact of the violence was never lost in that generation of people who saw death and destruction like never before. This led to the formation of United Nations on one end and on the other; there was a strong support in the social front of every nation to be out of the violence (Giddens, A. 1985). Military was slowly and steadily weaned away from the ruling community over a period of time. It happened in all major countries who were involved in the war. Though immediately after the war, the war heroes were honoured and they were dominating in the political sphere too. But soon, military lost its ground with respect to the political power and clout that they wielded. This was seen as a victory for the peace loving society at large. Many social practices were influenced by the World War II. Ideologies could not hold ground because of the violence that they were seen to breed (Hobsbawm, E. 2002). Fascism found its natural death after the huge violence that its practices preached. While large scale political changes were in the offing with the increasing effect of communism and labour right movements across the world. The class divide was coming down. Though there was large scale dissatisfaction on many of the practising ideologies, people realised the importance of non-violent protests. Never again, could there be another French revolution with large scale blood letting. Now, people could find themselves raising protests in a more democratic way though violence did and continues to show its head either as a terrorist attack or during a protest march turning itself into riots. The tendency to rope in peace in the continent was wide spread. Most people wanted peace more than anything else. But still there was the nostalgic feeling of war and the glory that victory brings. This feeling is like the one that men get when they take their photographs after hunting down a lion in the forests of Africa. This also led to a large scale racial recognition and the people started realising that there are certain classes of people who are not treated the way they should have been; as humans. Abolition of slavery though it happened long time ago, the subtle form of subjugation that existed in the continent had to be removed. European society started realising that it should provide equal rights to all races, all sexes and recognised their demands too. All these happened after the Second World War. The colonised nations in Asia, Africa and in the rest of the world woke up to the realisation that the countries dominating them are not really invincible. The large scale uprising in these colonies led to the formation of new nations. This was also caused by the working together of the leaders of these colonised nations along with the major power in the World War II. Therefore, there was a large scale support even within most of the European nations to treat them properly and to give them independence. This saw the birth of new nations. The war was a big equaliser and this made the people realise that all the men and women irrespective of their races were equals (Mosse, G. 1990). The fight of the Jews and the Blacks against the racial supremacy of the German Fascism led to strong support to their cause elsewhere in the world too. Racial discrimination was more vocally countered. So were other discriminations viz., sex, class and whatever basis they were being subjected to . This was a major change accelerated by the World War II though the change has started earlier. Peace was the most sought after commodity in the continental Europe. The countries wanted to come together and provide for themselves and for their neighbours. They also realised that the power of the country is not only in military domination but also in economic domination. It was easier to have an economic domination with out any reproach. That was not the case with military domination. It was expensive and meant loss of men and material. In economic domination, countries gained material and prosperity and also dominated the other country. This was made possible with the increased use of economic practices and the economic war was let loose in the world. While the cold war progressed, it was the underlying economic war that soon defeated the communistic governments and made them to change track. Peace after World War II was held together by the European countries using more of deterrents rather than the rightful use of thought or compromise. With the growth of the Eastern Tigers and the large economy of the United States and Russia hijacking most part of the changed world economics, it was important for the European countries to work together. Moreover, the independence of a number of states across the world hitherto held by European countries saw their GDPs decline. This was also another reason for the countries to work out a strategy together. The coming together of the European Union also had one more valid reason; that of no war in Europe. The war has taken its toll and people were keen in having peace across the continent. All these made the countries of the European Union to come together to form one preferred economic zone (Hayes, P. 1992). Unlike the models that were in existence earlier in the form of economic zones, the European Union could go one step further to have one single currency for the entire Europe. This was also due to the realisation that economic superiority will be best way to dominate the world order. The growth of Europe and its economic power from the sixteenth century till about the middle of the twentieth century is unsurpassed by anyone except the swift growth of the United States and a few of the eastern countries. Europes society was becoming more and more economically dominant. The society was getting richer and they could command more respect in the markets of the world. The large scientific growth that was catapulted by the World War II drove the countries into a hot economic race. This resulted in large construction and development activities across the world resulting in money flowing down to the workers. The economic activity brought about major social changes in the countries of Europe; one the class divide was becoming more prominent and the ruling classes had to answer the basic questions raised by these subjugated classes of people. This also saw the rise of communistic and socialistic principles in Europe as propounded by Marx and Engel. While on one side the class divide was getting attention, on the other the wealth increase led to the uplift of the socially poor and backward people across Europe. There was a noticeable rise in the living standards of the people; from the ones who were working in mines and mills to the white collar workers. All of them found that their pockets have bulged and they were able to take home a better pay packet. This led to more satisfied life and most of the common needs were being met. The third factor influencing the society in Europe was the globalisation of the culture. The cultural ethos of the east was found to have influence in the practices of the west. European adopted the cultures that they saw in the East during their travails. This saw an amalgamation of the Western and the Eastern cultures and more was expected to come out of this. This reflected in the music, dance and a number of fusion creations that existed in Europe. This also saw the growth of new art forms in both paintings as well as in architectural structures. The Japanese construction methods were adopted in UK and land marks still stand in UK as testimony to Chinese and Japanese Architectural adoptions. The cultural changes that the war brought in was coupled with the wealth, the nations acquired. Together, there was a rapid growth in every sphere of art; in music, architecture and in performing arts. Every one of them showed rapid growth and there was fusion of arts of various countries and cultures. The fourth factor of social influence is the deterrence to violence in societies. This also paved way for mutual respect for other countries and their freedom to live peacefully. The interference in the other country was found to be an irritant and in most democracies this was abhorred (Sakwa, R. & Stevens, A. 2000). Voice of the people anti to the war was louder and clearer. People showed clear preference in choosing their representatives in democratic governments with clear orientation anti to war. Increase in the wealth of the countries also reflected on the prosperity of individuals and in the size of the families that they had. Where family heads were hesitant in marrying and having families, it became a norm to have large families. After the end of the war, the rise in family affluence encouraged young men and women to have large families (Giddens, A. 1997). The women, who were working in factories during the war, went back to rear families. They married and had children resulting in the baby boom. This was a major social change that took its roots from the World War II. The fifth major influence noticed in Europe after World War II was the clear separation of the Capitalistic and Communistic form of economic systems (Mann, M. 1998). Countries were more vocal in what they adopted and they would also preach that their adoption was the right one. The positive and negative features of either of the systems were soon to be shown to the world half a century later. However, it was important to note that the countries could not but ensure the requirements of the people. Right to vote for all classes of people had to be provided. Right to vote for the women was also provided to ensure that they are also properly represented in the countrys management. The improvement in science also caused improvement in Medical sciences. There was large scale increase in the way medicine was practiced before and after the World War (Pugh M 1999). The knowledge of the people was also better and after facing innumerable causes and diseases, the medical fraternity could work comfortably to improve the overall life expectancy of the public. The nature of support that can be expected from the hospitals went up grossly. The overall production in most countries escalated beyond four to five times of their normal production capability. After the war, this continued to exist. Naturally, when the rebuilding of the countries were going on, the countries that could produce and supply could bring about large scale profits to themselves. All these factors were influenced by the World War II and the changes that they brought into the social structure of Europe was marked. This helped the European countries to make a come back by improving and building upon what ever they have lost. There was also a lot of helping hands provided to the defeated axis powers which was primarily coming out of the humanitarian feeling that every one of the people who suffered in the war felt for the other. While this improved camaraderie among the countries, it also went on to have groups created between them. While people were abhorring violence, there was the arms race between the communist block and the capitalist one which was soon to see the world divide on material grounds and not by aggressive tendencies. While wars were fought by people who were poor and for their daily bread, World War II was a war of aggression and was after the economic clout enjoyed by a few of the countries. This was a war of the rich and this madness was what the later day society tried to offset. References 1. Giddens, A. (1985) The Nation-State and Violence. Cambridge: Polity Press 2. Giddens, A. (1997) Sociology [3rd Edition]. Cambridge: Polity press 3. Hayes, P. (1992), (ed.), Themes in Modern European History 1890-1945. London: Routledge 4. Hobsbawm, E. (2002) ŒWar & Peace‚, In The Guardian. Saturday 23 February, 2002 5. Mann, M. (1998) States, War and Capitalism: Studies in Political Sociology. Oxford: Blackwell 6. Mosse, G. (1990) Fallen Soldiers: Reshaping the Memory of the World Wars. Oxford: Oxford University Press 7. Pugh, M. (1999) State and Society: A Social and Political History of Britain 1870-1997. London: Arnold Publishers 8. Sakwa, R. & Stevens, A. (2000) Contemporary Europe, London: Palgrave Publishers Read More