Table of Contents

Part 1
World War I and after, 1914–1923

The war’s international dimensions and aftermath

Introduction
Military operations
Diplomatic interactions
The Paris Peace Conference and the peace treaties
Overall conclusion

The home fronts, 1914–1918

Introduction
Wartime economies
Wartime politics
Wartime ideologies and activism
Life during the war
Overall conclusion

Part 2
Brave new world, 1919–1929

In search of collective security

Introduction
The Versailles decade
In search of collective security
Dreaming the United States of Europe
Colonial developments
Conflicts in the broader Middle East
Overall conclusion

Modernity’s promises

Introduction
Political reconstruction
Demographic transitions
Economic transitions
Social policies and transformations
Urban development
Overall conclusion

Part 3
Dress rehearsals for war, 1929–1939

Revisionism and realignments

Introduction
The end of the Versailles settlement, 1930–1935
The twilight of the European Idea
Colonial developments
The emergence of a German–Italian Alliance, 1936–1938
Prelude to war, 1938–1939
Overall conclusion

Life as usual?

Introduction
Democracies challenged
Two faces of totalitarianism
Demographic transitions
Economic transformations
Social policies
Urban development
Overall conclusion

Part 4
World War II, 1939–1945

International dimensions of the war

Introduction
Military operations
The colonies in the war
Diplomatic initiatives
The peace conferences and the future of Europe
Overall conclusion

The home fronts, 1939–1945

Introduction
Wartime economies
The primacy of war over politics
Demographic chaos and human tragedies
The lives of the people
Overall conclusion

Part 5
European civilization in the crucible, 1914–1945

Culture in turmoil, 1914–1945

Introduction
Cultural dissonance
Religious shifts
Mass communication and propaganda
Mass media and culture
Overall conclusion

Whither Europe?