AboutMichael FitzGerald Expertise I am an expert in German history between 1918 and 1945, particularly with regard to the Nazi era. I am also very knowledgeable about most areas of philosophy (I have an honours degree in the subject) and am able to answer questions on that subject too. In addition, I am very knowledgeable about poetry. One of my hobbies is also politics, mainly British and European though I follow the US political scene as well. Another one is the history of crime and punishment and British social history (the two often overlap!) I am willing to answer questions on all the above issues.
Experience Author of two published works, 'Storm Troopers of Satan,' an account of the lunatic fringes of Nazi ideology, and 'Adolf Hitler: A Portrait,' a biography of the German dictator. 'Adolf Hitler' was published in July 2006 by the top history publisher Spellmount and was named historical biography of the month by the Good Book Guide. I correspond with Ian Kershaw, Peter Stachura, Jeremy Noakes, Roger Moorhouse and Stan Lauryssens. I have undertaken research for radio, television, newspapers and magazines
Organizations Society of Authors
Education/Credentials I have an Honours degree in philosophy.
Awards and Honors LT prize for poetry
Historical Biography of the month, Good Book Guide
Question "World War I marked the end of an era of optimism which was based on the belief that science and technology would continue to improve the lives of the earth's population" do you agree with this statement? what was the political and cultural impact of the war on the development of the following countries??
The United States
Germany
India.
Thanks for your insights to this.
Answer Dear Ahmed,
Thanks for your fascinating question. The problem is that it is one on which whole books have been written and I am only going to be able to respond in a brief and general manner as otherwise my answer could run into hundreds of pages!
Let's begin with the quote you used. Even in the West, it was clear that the optimistic, not to say naive, view that science and technology could cure all problems and would lead to a world of limitless progress had become a minority view. There had always been thinkers who had opposed it, such as Blake, Cobbett, Carlyle and Ruskin, but during the 1890s the tendency towards pessimism and distrust of science became extremely strong. By the early 1900s it had become the dominant view in the West. Outside the West, this view was only shared by aggressive powers such as Japan, who were certainly adopting Western science and technology enthusiastically.
What was the political and cultural impact of the war on America? Hardly any. The US was not involved in World War I long enough for it to produce anything other than a call for isolation from foreign affairs and an unpleasantly xenophobic domestic policy. In 1924 the Ku Klux Klan was at the height of its power and almost managed to capture the Democratic nomination for President.
On Germany, by contrast, the impact was profound. But for the war, Adolf Hitler would never have been able to come to power. The Germans were badly treated by the Allies and this harsh treatment played into the hands of the Nazis.
On India, the case is less clear. Gandhi was not fully committed to the policy of independence until the 1940s, and he was prepared to go along with Baldwin's ideas for Home Rule leading ultimately to independence. So too was Nehru. Jinnah was not, since he feared that the Muslims in India would be swamped by the overwhelmingly Hindu beliefs of the majority of the population. Nor were radical nationalist leaders like Bose who not only collaborated with the Nazis but actively espoused a sort of Indian fascism himself. Britain under Baldwin realised that the Empire was ultimately unsustainable and began the first steps in dismantling it.
