New Perspectives on Europe from 1914 to 1945

Abstract

Europe from War to War, 1914–1945 started as an attempt to document topics left blank in most textbooks dealing with twentieth century Europe. It ended up being a thoroughly researched, comprehensive study of the first half of the century. Its original structure features parallel chapters within each chronological section (1914–1919, 1929–1939, 1939–1945). Each section contains two chapters that deal with international and domestic matters. Chapters are organized topically. In the chapters focusing on international affairs, military and diplomatic issues are considered in their complementarity, and the technological and global dimensions of each conflict are highlighted. In chapters dealing with domestic matters, economic, political, demographic, and social developments are dealt with a systematic fashion. As a result of the consistent coverage of topics, the continuum of history reverberates throughout the book.
Europe from War to War, 1914–1945 highlights topics that are seldom handled in comprehensive studies of the time period, such as: the contributions of the colonies to European powers in both world wars; interwar projects for European unification; the role of Scandinavian, Iberian, and Balkan countries; the role of religion; trans-national feminism; the demographics of minorities, emigration and refugees; the impact of both world wars on initiatives such as relief efforts, international labor regulation, and public health.
Modernization, a key theme throughout the chapters dealing with domestic developments, is examined through five criteria: political change (democracy, human rights, political participation and liberal measures), demographic change (refugees, resettlements, migrations, and growth), economic progress (industrial modernization, agricultural reforms and labor legislation), social policies (welfare, professional mobility, public health, and women’s advancement), and urban development (urban planning, transportation). A separate chapter deals with cultural developments from 1914 to 1945; it provides an integrating perspective on the period’s momentous changes.