7.9 Causation in Global Conflict

Causation in Unit 7

1. Global conflicts created new balances of power. After World War I, the US stood on the top before spiraling down alongside Europe during the onset of the Great Depression. Japan then dominated Southeast and East Asia during the Interwar Period. After World War II, the US and Soviet Russia became the two leading global superpowers that emerged, later on duking it out in the Cold War.
2. Global conflicts marked the end of land-based and maritime empires. Industrialization marked the end of old-school imperialism with castles and primitive guns. With the development of advanced weapons like fighter planes, bombs, artillery, durable amphibious vehicles, and even missiles, land and maritime empires could easily crumble once they gave one hint of weakness in their military arsenals. Examples of empires that collapsed are: Ottoman Empire, Qing Dynasty, Russian Empire (not to be confused with Soviet Union or the USSR).
3. Global conflicts set the world down a path of decolonization. The disastrous transfer of power (colonies → mandates) after WWI and the spread of the ideal of self-determination stirred strong nationalist sentiments from inhabitants of colonies. After the world wars, movements will start to shift their focus once again on establishing an independent state and freeing themselves from their colonizers. The current political and/or social order was also challenged. Notable movements include India from Britain, the prelude to the Chinese Civil War from Japan, Vietnam from France, Indonesia from the Netherlands, African states from Europeans, and the Mexican Revolution.
4. Global conflicts led to the rise of new forms of government. The failure of the old system of capitalism after World War I highlighted the need for some nations to use different methods to run governments and economies. Examples include fascism, socialism (including communism), and Keynesian economics (new capitalism).