Moreover, both viewed the distinctive opportunities afoot in helping the world to define itself along either capitalist or communist lines. To this extent, the period following World War II may actually be defined as a transitional phase necessary encumbered by brutal conflict. The end of feudalism and colonialism in Europe, marked most officially by the end of the WWII and the need for each European nation to look inward toward rebuilding, would signal a new period in the history of human governance. American and Soviet orientation would reflect new ideals, to the extent that we can define the world of the late 20th century as distinguished by efforts at redefining government orientation. With the eras of enlightenment and industrialization now past, these European institutions were no longer plausible or relevant.
In many ways, the conflicts of the next several decades would be the natural byproduct of attempts to define some more universal standards for both economic and political orientation. To the point, even as conflicts raged, institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the European Union and the North American Treaty Organization emerged. While all would be used as a pathway to creating coalitions in an ideologically divided world, they would also demonstrate the clear move toward a global community with a set of collective interests. Accordingly, it would not be inappropriate to characterize the late 20th century as a period of globalizing,...
And the U.S.S.R. engaged in massive resource and land exploitation. This demonstrates the importance of industrialization and modernization in defining this period. The entanglements in the Middle East of which Terry speaks for instance, would find both the U.S. And the Soviet Union leveraging occupation and political partnership in this region into petroleum exploitation. The resulting conflicts took on many cultural and political implications but in reality were underscored by this need to fuel modernization and development both domestically and in spheres of influence.
To this extent, we must acknowledge that attempts to define the late 20th century cannot be made without consideration of the roles played by economy and governance, both of which were under considerable transformation. While we cannot define this period apart from the conflict which it witnessed, it must be recognized that this conflict carried very broad implications with respect to the shape of the world we live in today.
Works Cited:
Goff, R.; Moss, W.; Terry, J.; Upshur, J. & Schroeder, M. (2007). The Twentieth Century and Beyond: A Global History. McGraw-Hill Humanities, 7th edition.
