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... people in Germany to believe that war might still pay. Germany had only narrowly lost WWI, and many of its members were convinced that the nation's inability to profit from the global catastrophe had only been a fluke. The emergence of the Cold War directly reflected the realization of the unprofitability of war and its disastrous consequence. Though the animosity between Communist Russia and the U.
S. 's democratic regime was intense, both nations realized that war was uncalled for and far too risky. What lessons WWI failed to teach Western nations WWII adequately made apparent. The Cuban missile crisis was one of the most terrifying climaxes of the Cold War; but even in such an obvious clash, Kruschev bowed his head, at the risk of losing face, to prevent war. Countries with less military development, on the other hand, still participate in arms races and continue to squabble.
Those nations who have not arrived at military endgames continue to hunger for technology and continue to battle back and forth amongst one another. The stakes for these countries remain relatively low, and the ends still seem to justify the means. Examples: Palestine and Israel, civil wars within African nations, Iraq and Kuwait, etc. D. ) Nations are converging. Through international commerce, wars, telecommunications and media, nations around the world are beginning to look and act alike. Commerce brings products and ideas across international borders.
Trade exchanges cultures as well as goods. Imports and Exports connect nations to each other through vital supply links and foreign market demand. Wars and foreign occupations mix the culture and practices of the victors with that of the losers. The world is growing more interdependent due to travel and trade. -Japan: Commerce has westernized urban centers, Jap.
Products sold domestically and abroad. WWII brought Japanese culture in contact with America and opened up America as a dominant market for Japanese manufactured goods. Media exchange; Martial arts and Anime have made a profound impact on western culture and entertainment. -Europe: Aftermath of WWII established the US as a main provider of culture and protection for western Europe. The Eur.
Union. has equalized many differences between European currencies and police jurisdiction, and European markets have spread to N. and S. America and Asia. -Africa: Westernized cities with high-rise apartments now replace the tribal villages of decades past.
Foreign investment and technological advances have brought many parts of Africa up to speed with the rest of the world. Global markets and the arts have increased awareness of all things African and pan-Africanism is on the rise again. -India: colonization by British has introduced India to western products and consumer goods. Development and manufacturing have increased India's importance to the world market and have increased its similarity to other industrialized nations. -Middle East: Oil exports have brought large amounts of money into the Middle East, and the shared religion of Islam has linked the different nations of the M. E.
together. Nations are distinct though many nations share the same products, facilities and movies, most nations have separate or distinct languages and customs. Differences in religion also play a large part in separating otherwise closely related countries and peoples. Finally, race and ethnicity have played a large part in helping nations retain their own identities. People tend to group together with others like them and feel a unity of spirit and nationalism which is distinct and not likely to disappear in the near future. -Japan: unique language and customs separate it from others -Europe is rich in distinct culture. Languages and identities separate countries in Europe. -Africa: is made up of diverse cultures and groups (Igbo and Bantu) which are very different. -India: differences in religions (Islam and Hindu) have resulted in massive bloodshed, and the Hindu caste system is very different from what exists elsewhere. -China: Communist politics and different language keep it separate and distinct. -Middle East: Religious differences between Arabs and Hebrews and lack of industrialization E.
Revolution can be defined as a rapid, basic transformation that permeates society. Naturally, the scale of such a change must be large enough to alter the fabric of a culture, and must come in a quick spurt, rather than a gradual shift. E. ) Revolution can be defined as a rapid, basic transformation that permeates society. The scale of such a change must be large enough to alter the fabric of a culture, and must come in a quick spurt rather than a gradual shift. Transition from colonial rule to a multitude of independent nations, some of which were capitalist, some of which were socialist. Many nations reverted to more traditional styles of life.
However, no organized political systems had been present in some original traditional African societies. While social hierarchies had been in place in a number of tribes, nations and empires, many governments had to be built using only the blueprints of existing political systems elsewhere. Colonial powers were left with no say in government. Such a transfer of power from colonial nations to traditional African systems must be considered revolutionary. The transition was most pronounced in Portuguese colonies, which had been infamously repressive and restrictive prior to African independence. English and French colonies did not experience as dramatic of changes, as they both sponsored the practice of traditional customs in their colonies and helped foster nationalism among their African satellites.
Nevertheless, all scenarios are the product of a rapid political change at not only a national, but a continental level. The political contexts of all African nations were altered after the African independence movement. Russia was subjected to imperialistic pressure from Western nations. and suffered military defeats at the hands of the Japanese and various European nations.
The revolt came on the heels of WWI, when the Russian masses realized that the tsarist regime was insensitive to their needs. The Russian public had been vocally opposed to the nation's entry into WWI, and the government's participation in it resulted in major loss of peasant lives. When the Russian state collapsed in 1917, the Bolsheviks ushered in a Marxist ideology unlike anything both Russia and the entire globe had seen. These communist ideas coincided with a peasant revolution which aided in redistribution of land. Such rebellions were normal in the autonomous feudal states of Russia, though the last one proved more permanent.
The revolution was a violent social upheaval which occurred at most levels of Russian society except the highest. It can be considered a genuine social revolution, as it brought about rapid change in the entire social fabric, and was the product of movements of all parts of society. Russian's economic tendencies underwent revolution as well, as the nation shifted from an agricultural focus to an industrial one. Very similar to Russia... Victim of imperialistic pressure, beaten by Japanese and European militaries. Q'ing dynasty collapsed in 1911, and the ensuing rebellions were led by a handful of educated strategists (like Mao), though revolutionary focus consisted mainly of peasant participants.
Like Russia's revolt, China's occurred from the bottom-up. The rebellion was bloody. It overthrew the traditional dynastic cycle and created a powerful and centralized republic. In many places, there was a shift from agricultural development and agrarian practices to industrial production.
Aside from a change in the political and economic fabrics of China, the revolution defied traditional Confucian beliefs and practices long subscribed to by China's citizens. While Mao's installment of a communist regime took many years, the upheaval of the dynastic cycle was brief, and change came rapidly. The transitions definitely occurred on a large-scale and national level. Separated Muslims and Hindus, though they were essentially separated to begin with. This revolution only further pronounced the boundaries between the two. Not really a revolution, because the movement served simply to restore traditional ways of life.
Resistance was passive not bloody, change was gradual not rapid. Wanted to return to traditional economic foundations, like cloth production. The English government reluctantly aided India in preparation for its independence. The Government of India Act passed in 1935 and the first elections were held in 1937. Britain decided to abandon India entirely after WWII. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on African Nations Traditional African
