World In The Twentieth Century

Colonies were considered as the source of cheap labour, raw material and the market for selling industrial products. Because of these reasons, the European countries started investing their capital in colonies. Thus, the term Imperialism refers to the flow of investment of capital to colonies. The main feature of the imperialism is to enforce political, economic and cultural dominance of one nation on another nation.

The main motive of the European countries was to establish trade relations with Asian, African and Latin American nations. With their political and military power, they exploited the other nations economically. Gradually, these nations became the colonies of European countries. This process is called Colonization. To protest against this capitalist exploitation, trade unions were formed by the workers. The profit of the capitalists started decreasing due to the continuous protest by the trade unions and an increase in wages.

Colonies were considered as the source of cheap labour, raw material and the market for selling industrial products. Because of these reasons, the European countries started investing their capital in colonies. Thus, the term Imperialism refers to the flow of investment of capital to colonies. The main feature of the imperialism is to enforce political, economic and cultural dominance of one nation on another nation. With the help of their legal system, administrative measures, military force, etc, they started enforcing their supremacy over them.

Colonization differ from Imperialism in many ways-

• When European countries started imposing their supremacy over colonies, the traditional economic system was completely destroyed.

• They replaced the Administrative and judicial systems.

• They were forced to grow cash crops instead of traditional food crops.

• Their dominance led to an increase in Poverty and unemployment.

• They exploited the Natural resources.

• They also destroyed Indigenous arts, literature, language, and culture and education system.

The winning allies – Britain and France organised a peace conference in Paris in 1919. They wanted to discuss the post-war situation so the treaty was signed with the defeated nations. The most important treaty was the Versailles Treaty under which German colonies were distributed among the winning allies and they had taken control of the rich mines of Germany. Germans were compelled to give a huge amount as war indemnity. Moreover, Germany was made responsible for all war guilt and was disarmed. This left Germany and Italy without any colony or market. Germany and Italy planned to capture colonies and attack weak nations so that they could improve their political and economic condition. They decided to continue their policy of aggression so Italy and Germany formed an alliance with Japan called Axis Power. As opposed to this, Allied powers were formed by Britain, France and China. Later, the anti-fascist alliance was joined by the America and Soviet Union. Britain and France didn’t try to stop the attacks when Germany, Italy and Japan attacked other nations. The Soviet Union was considered to be their main enemy as it was a socialist country. The policy which supported these Fascist attacks came to be known as Policy of Appeasement. When Germany attacked Poland on 1st September 1939, it provoked allied nations to attack Germany which led to the Second World War.

Thus it is true that ''Paris Peace Conference which made Germany sole responsible for all the war, led to the outbreak of the Second World War.''

Even though there was a war going on, the United States of America never faced an economic crisis. European powers continued to take loans from the USA. Soon the United States of America became the new economic power outside Europe as the use of the American dollar was more than British pound according to foreign exchange holding. But this economic growth didn’t last long and in 1929 the world faced an economic crisis.

The factors that led to America into economic crisis are as follows:

• On 24th October 1929, the New York Stock Exchange market Crashed. This day came to be known as 'Black Thursday'. Because of this investors started selling their stocks which led to the large volume of stock trade.

• The prices declined rapidly.

• Both America and European nations affected by the Great Depression. People lost their wealth and also some committed suicide due to the suffering of loss.

• Production rate decreased which increased unemployment.

• This led to the disintegration of world trade.

The term ‘Fascism’ means 'a tied bundle of rods, with a protruding axe'. It is derived from the Latin word 'faces'. Fascism emerged as a symbol of power and collectivism in Ancient Rome. After the First World War, European governments lost their power and prestige which affected the people of the colonies. It resulted in Unemployment, poverty and inflation which disturbed the entire system. To improve the political and economic chaos, Fascism prevailed in Italy. Gradually, they were able to acquire power because of Economic destruction, opposition against the victors, aimlessness, etc.

The various features of the Fascism are –

• Opposition for democracy.

• Fascism was against Socialism.

• Development of Nation was considered to be important.

• The purity of race was maintained.

• The cause of the war was justified.

• The widespread of Aggressive nationalism.

• Glorified their past.

• People were instructed about their ideologies through arts, literature and education.

• Military dictatorship.

• Political enemies should be destroyed.

• Adolf Hitler – Gestapo

The leader of the Nazi party, Adolf Hitler considered Jews responsible for ruin and humiliation of Germany. They were killed in specially built concentration camps. This came to be known as the Holocaust. There was the special police troop called ‘Gestapo’ who were assigned to kill and assault Jews. He thought that Aryans should rule the world and justified the purity of race.

• Treaty of Versailles - World War I

After the First World War, the winning allies, Britain and France organised peace conference at Paris in 1919. They wanted to discuss the post-war situation so the treaty was signed with the defeated nations. The most important treaty was the Versailles Treaty under which German colonies were distributed among the winning allies and they had taken control of the rich mines of Germany. Germans were compelled to give a huge amount as war indemnity. Moreover, Germany was made responsible for all war guilt and was disarmed.

• Disintegration of the Soviet Union - Mikhail Gorbachev

The disintegration of the Soviet Union was considered to be one of the most important events in the 20th century. There are many factors which led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union - Mikhail Gorbachev’s administrative measures like Glasnost and Perestroika; not followed the basic principles of Socialism; increasing Corruption and inefficiency of the bureaucracy; No changes in the economic sector. When Mikhail Gorbachev resigned from the post of President, the existence of the Soviet Union came to an end. This led to the end of the Cold war.

• Benito Mussolini – Italy

Benito Mussolini led the Fascist reign in Italy. Mussolini conducted tyrannical rule in the political and economic field in Italy. Violence and cruelty became part of the Fascist movement. His main aim was to bring back the ancient Roman Empire so he implemented various symbols of ancient Roman administration. Through Fascist policies, he suppressed his opponents with the help of his military force called 'Black Shirts' and also conquered nations like Ethiopia, Albania etc.

Palestine was part of the Turkish Empire until the First World War. When Turkey lost the war, Britain took over Palestine. Britain was helped by the Jews as a reward to them British foreign secretary Arthur Balfour established the Jewish Nation in West Asia. This came to be known as the Balfour Declaration.

The various political circumstances that resulted in Palestine-Israel conflict are-

• Hitler committed brutality against Jews which increased the demand for the separate Jewish state. Meanwhile, an international movement called Zionism was started to provide a homeland for the Jews. As a result, a nation Israel was formed in 1948.

• Conflicts between Israel and the Arab nations began. Soon, Israel captured Palestine and Palestinians were thrown out from their homeland, so they migrated to various Arab countries.

• Yasser Arafat founded the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and became the president with the objective to establish a nation.

• Israel declared Palestine as a free nation after mass destruction and massacre. The Oslo Pact was signed in 1993 by the US. Although the terms in the pact still need to be fulfilled.

Many Asian, African and Latin American countries became independent after the Second World War. They realised that the Cold war disturbs World peace. These nations decided not to join any war so they formed the Non-Aligned Movement.

The non-alignment movement was a significant event because –

• They were aware that the fight to acquire strong military force and weapons might harm them. They knew that world without any wars or conflict would only to economic and social development.

• In 1955, at a meeting in Bandung, Indonesia, the idea of the Non-Aligned Movement was debated.

• In 1961, at Belgrade, the first conference of the nonaligned countries was held. Jawaharlal Nehru said, "Non-alignment doesn't mean to keep aloof from world affairs. Rather, it is to face many issues we confront,”

Disintegration of the Soviet Union was considered to be one of the most important events in the 20th century. There are many factors which led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union - Mikhail Gorbachev’s administrative measures like Glasnost and Perestroika; not followed the basic principles of Socialism; increasing Corruption and inefficiency of the bureaucracy; No changes in the economic sector.

The changes that the disintegration of the Soviet Union brought to the world are as follows:

• When Mikhail Gorbachev resigned from the post of President, the existence of the Soviet Union came to an end.

• This led to the end of the Cold war. The conflict and differences between the USA and USSR led to the beginning of the cold war.

• International relations affected due to the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

• The USA became the Unipolar power instead of the existence of bipolar power.

'The Impact of Multinational companies on our daily life'

Multinational companies (MNCs) are those companies which establish in a particular country and produce such goods and services with the objective to get profit. They hampered the functioning of the economic, social and cultural sectors. These companies competed with each other in order to gain control of the resources of the third world countries. Multinational companies set up their base in developing nations. The various examples of the multinational corporations are – Nokia, Dominos, McDonald's, Pepsi, Kellogg, Pampers, Nescafe, Coca-Cola, Gillette, Microsoft, etc.

There are various impacts of the MNCs on our daily life. First and the foremost, the establishment of the MNCs increased the employment opportunities for the young generation and it led to the development of the social and economic condition of the people. It helped to circulate the products of the developed nations into the developing nations. Multinational companies played an important role in globalization. MNCs increase the knowledge and experience of the people by training them and developing their skills. They encourage competition among the local companies so that they could improve their own goods and services. Due to the increasing development of the MNCs and various marketing strategies, the economy of the many countries falls down. They move from one country to another based on their requirements. They want cheap labour which leads to the potential abuse of the workers. They dominate the market of the developing nations which pose a threat to local businesses.

Thus, MNCs has both positive and negative impact as on one side it provides job opportunities to the people which leads to their exploitation. It is important to create proper rules and regulations for stopping MNCs from exploiting the economic wealth of the developing nations.

FSU students marching for anti-war

protest - Tallahassee, Florida.

United Nations Day – 24th October

UN day runs from 20 to 26 October. Events like meetings, discussions, exhibits, cultural performances take place. This day is celebrated to inform people about the objectives and achievements of the United Nations Organization.

'UN Day quiz programme' – various questions will be asked related to this day which is as follows-

1. On which day United Nations Day is celebrated?

Ans: On 24th October the United Nations day was celebrated. It was in 1945 the charter was signed.

2. When the UN day was first celebrated?

Ans: It was first celebrated in 1948 by many nations, political and military groups.

3. How many countries signed the Charter in 1945?

Ans: 51 member nations signed the Charter.

4. Name at least five specialised nations under the United Nations?

Ans: WHO (World Health Organization), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund)and ILO (International Labour Organization).

5. How many countries are members of the United Nations today?

Ans: Today, 193 countries are members of the United Nations.

6. Who designed the United Nation’s logo?

Ans: Donal McLaughlin, an employee of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), designed the United Nation’s logo.

7. What the staff members of the UN wear on special days?

Ans: they wear their national costumes.

8. Name the 193rd member of the United Nations?

Ans: South Sudan is the 193rd member of the United Nations. On July 14, 2011, it joined the UN.

9. What is the motive of the United Nations?

Ans: The motive of the United Nations is to promote – human rights, International peace and prevent conflicts.

10. Who was the first elected president of the United Nations General Assembly?

Ans: Paul-Henri Spaak of Belgium was the first elected president of the United Nations General Assembly.