What is Unique About This Time Period?

The world in 1914 was clearly dominated by European nations. Despite the rise of such powers as the United States , Japan , and Russia , Britain and France still headed huge empires around the globe. After the unification of Germany , the struggle for power intensified primarily as a contest among European nations. However, beginning in 1914, dramatic events shattered European hegemony, so that only three decades later, the dynamics of world power were transformed. Always competitive and contentious, European countries turned on one another, bringing a global network of countries into their arguments in two great world wars, but the ultimate losers were the very countries that had held the reins of global power in 1914. By the early 21st century, Europeans were again scrambling to patch up their differences through regional organizations and treaties, but by that point, European global domination had long disappeared.

QUESTIONS OF PERIODIZATION

20th century history is probably the most difficult to evaluate, primarily because we are still so close to it. We don't have the advantage of perspective that we have for earlier eras. After all, we don't know very much yet about the chapters that follow the end of the century, and even though some very dramatic events have occurred in the early 21st century, their meaning for the future is far from clear. However, even with our limited perspective, the 20th century appears to have been a pivotal one, with major changes and new patterns being established.

Major characteristics that distinguish the time period 1914 - present include:

• Redefinition and repositioning of the west - During the 20th century, the term "west" came to have a new meaning. In the early part of the century, the west was centered in Europe . Although the United States and Australia were considered to be western nations, they were more or less off-spins from the European colonial powers. After World War II the western center moved to the United States , and by the end of the century, the phrase "western dominance" was a clear reference to U.S. power. Even so, power centers in other parts of the world challenged the west: Japan in the 1930s and 40s, and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. The United States emerged as the dominant world power after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, but significant checks on that power appear to be emerging in the early 21st century. Birth control has meant that the west currently has a smaller percentage of the world's population than even before, a fact that adds to the question of whether or not the west will continue to dominate the world.
• Increase in international contacts - International trade and communication burgeoned during the 20th century, creating the phenomenon of globalization. Technological advancements were central to the swift, gigantic changes. In the beginning of the century, people marveled at the ability of ships and railroads to reach long-distance destinations in a few weeks, but by the end of the century, airplane point-to-point connections were measured in hours. Likewise, wired telephones were new in 1914, but by 2000 they were being replaced by cell phones and e-mail communication. Furthermore, automobiles, commercial airlines, and personal computers meant that more and more people were sharing the connections, although by century's end, many of the earth's people were still left out of the new communications network. Technological connections allowed the spread of culture and science to occur much more quickly than ever before. The century also saw the development of international organizations, starting with the League of Nations in 1918, and continuing with the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. Migrations from Africa , Asia , and the Caribbean headed toward the leading industrial centers from the 1920s, leading many people to question whether or not regional identities were being lost.
• The democratic transition -Very few countries had the same type of government in 2000 that they had in 1914. Monarchies all over the world were replaced by democratic governments or authoritarian regimes, and by the late 20th century, many authoritarian regimes were being replaced by democracies. Western democratic governments were often used as models, not only for newly independent countries, but for former powerhouses, such as the Soviet Union .
• Changes in belief systems - For most of world history, organized religions in all parts of the globe have been important influences on almost every other area of life, including government, family life, and culture. Many scholars see a 20th century trend away from religion toward a new reliance on non-religious philosophies such as liberalism, nationalism, and communism. Furthermore, by century's end, people in western nations, as well as some in the east, appeared to be relying less on religious explanations for social and natural phenomena than on new and rapidly developing scientific explanations. However,
• Questioning of systems of inequality - Although people had challenged social inequalities for many years before 1914, widespread reforms characterize the 20th century. Industrialized countries had abolished slavery in the 19th century, but major civil rights movements for racial and ethnic minorities shook the social systems around the globe in such countries as the United States , South Africa , and India . Women's rights movements also have their roots in the 19th century, but only in the 20th century did women in industrialized countries win the right to vote. Likewise, people in lands conquered by imperialist powers in earlier eras challenged international inequities, although they were far from successful in their goals for equality by the end of the 20th century.

We will analyze these important characteristics of the period by examining these topics:

• War and diplomacy -The first half of the 20th century was marked by two world wars accompanied by genocide, and the second half saw a change in the nature of warfare with the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union . On the diplomatic front, international organizations proliferated to address the changing balance of power in the world.
• New patterns of nationalism - Nationalism continued to shape interactions among nations as large empires broke into smaller ethnic based countries. Widespread decolonization after World War II both reflected and promoted nationalism in former colonies.
• Impact of major global economic developments - The Great Depression affected some countries more than others, but it had a profound economic impact on both industrialized and non-industrialized areas as well as on world trade. New technologies promoted economic development in Pacific Rim countries and contributed to the emerging importance of multinational corporations.
• Political revolutions and innovations - Revolutions shook Russia , China , and many Latin American countries. Political leaders experimented with different versions of communism, socialism, and capitalism, with some turning to authoritarian methods and others to democracy, and monarchy declined in many parts of the globe.
• Social reform and revolution - Reform led to changes in gender roles, family structures, the rise of feminism, peasant protest, and international Marxism.
• Globalization of science, technology, and culture - Increasing international contacts encouraged the global spread of science and consumer culture, sparking varying local and regional reactions. Patterns of resistance to globalization raised questions of fragmentation, or the tendency for regions to turn toward local beliefs and values and resist influence from other areas.
• Demographic and environmental changes - Despite migrations of people from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean to industrialized countries, population distributions changed, with North America and Europe having declining proportions of the world population. The environment was altered by continued urbanization and deforestation, and significant green/environmental movements emerged to resist the changes.