GS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: In Flanders Fields, The Great Game, Chemical Warfare
Multiple choice, definitions, short answer / Bring pencil /Review thurs oct 6 7-9 N1001
Outline
Rise of International Organizations and Regional Blocs
→ A Political-Economy View on the 20th c.
International Organizations
Can be divided into two groups:
1. IGOs: international governmental organizations are creations of national governments to
help coordinate behaviour and solve problems, e.g. the United Nations
2. NGOs: non-governmental organizations are created by private individuals or interest
groups to improve international life, e.g. International Red Cross, work in civil society
(i.e. in neither government nor business for-profit sector)
Emergence of IGOs in the 20th c.
“The Great Game”
● Refers generally to the struggle for power and land amongst the colonial powers in the
late-19th and early-20th centuries → specifically refers to the British suspension of
French and Russian attempts to expand into Central Asia (e.g. Afghanistan)
● Colonialism caused rivalries between the European empires → even though in theory
these states were dedicated to respecting each other’s sovereignty - in practice this
became a competition between colonial powers to expand reach, power, and resources
● Empires were already in decline
WWII (1914-1918)
● Known as “the Great War”, nationalist sentiments captured in John MccRae’s poem “In
Flanders Fields”
● Cf. Wilfred Owen’s poem “Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori” on the use of chemical
warfare in WWI
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
● Cf. Horace’s poem
● WWII Ended in the Treaty of Versailles (1919)
● Gave rise to the League of Nations (precursor to United Nations)
Food For Thought
● Does “supporting our troops” always mean supporting war? (Does patriotism = My
country right or wrong?)
● How do we remember and commemorate the dead? (What if the cause was noble or
ignoble? What if the sacrifice is in vain?)
● What obligations do we have to veterans who return from war? (Seems that we glorify
the dead, but dismiss the living)
League of Nations (1919-1939)
● The League of Nations was formed following the end of WWI
● First attempt at global governance, led by American president Woodrow Wilson
● Many issues:
○ US refused to join (US republican senators refused to ratify the treaty)
○ Germany and Japan withdrew after they were publicly condemned by the League
○ Collapsed with start of WWII in 1939 (since great powers were not signed on)
Inter-War Period (1918-1939)
● Period between WWI and WWII
○ Characterised by protectionism: development and protection of national
economies
○ High tariffs (duties) on imported goods were seen as necessary to the
development of national industries and businesses
● Great Depression (1930s) reverberated around the increasingly economically
interconnected globe
WWII (1939-1945)
● Biggest war world has so far seen
○ Over 50 countries involved
○ 50 million people died
○ Most expensive war in history
○ Axis powers - Germany, Italy, Japan
○ Allies - China, France, Russia, US and UK
The World Powers
● Power can be defined as the ability of a country to get what it wants)
● Distinction between hard and soft power
1. Hard power: countries with economic wealth and military capability
2. Soft power: refers to one’s ability to get others to think the way one does through
non economic and non military means (cultural and academic exchange to win
people over)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Multiple choice, definitions, short answer / bring pencil /review thurs oct 6 7-9 n1001. A political-economy view on the 20th c. Refers generally to the struggle for power and land amongst the colonial powers in the late-19th and early-20th centuries specifically refers to the british suspension of. French and russian attempts to expand into central asia (e. g. afghanistan) Colonialism caused rivalries between the european empires even though in theory these states were dedicated to respecting each other"s sovereignty - in practice this became a competition between colonial powers to expand reach, power, and resources. Known as the great war , nationalist sentiments captured in john mccrae"s poem in. Wilfred owen"s poem dulce et decorum est pro patria mori on the use of chemical warfare in wwi. Wwii ended in the treaty of versailles (1919) Gave rise to the league of nations (precursor to united nations)
