Interwar Period (1918-1939):

In General:

 In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period (or interbellum), lasted from 11 November
1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days), from the end of World War I to the
beginning of World War II. It was relatively short, yet featured many social, political, and economic
changes worldwide.
 It was the era of peace in which secret alliances were made between countries.
 European Industrialization was at its peak, making advanced machines and conquering and
colonizing other countries.
 The Political System of Europe was powerful at that time.
 There was also the war of ideologies i.e. war between communism and capitalism.
 The constructivist school of thought was getting prominent. They said that society shapes us in the
same way how we shape society. For instance, if someone talks about intolerance in society, he will
become intolerant of society.

Continental / Universal (Europe):

 The great Ottoman Empire came to an end in 1924. During its decline, the Austro-Hungarian
Empire and Germany set their sights on the Balkan regions that the Ottomans were losing.
Eventually, the Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and German Empires were dismantled. The territories
once held by the Ottomans and German colonies were redistributed among the Allies, primarily
Britain and France. In the aftermath, independent nations emerged in the western parts of the former
Russian Empire, including Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Additionally,
Bessarabia, which is now part of Moldova and portions of Ukraine, chose to reunify with Romania.

 Germany wielded significant power in Europe, but it faced contention from the universal power,
Britain. Alongside these two, Russia was experiencing tremendous growth. These powerful nations
were eager for dominance and influence across Europe. Additionally, there were other formidable
powers such as Japan and Italy, all making significant advancements in military and technology.
Notably, Russia supported the White Army against the Bolsheviks, a revolution spearheaded by
Lenin.

 Politically, the era coincided with the rise of communism, starting in Russia with the October
Revolution and Russian Civil War, at the end of World War I, and ended with the rise of fascism,
particularly in Germany and Italy.

 Most importantly, significant institutions were established during this time period. For example,
the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) was founded in 1930 to foster cooperation among
central banks and manage financial transactions between nations, especially in the aftermath of
World War I. Additionally, the World Court (Permanent Court of International Justice) was
established in 1920 as the primary judicial body of the League of Nations. Its purpose was to resolve
disputes between member states and offer advisory opinions on legal matters.
Idealism (Liberal Ideas): Normative Approach
 Idealism and liberal ideas at that time were based on the good nature of humans and all those who
were working theoretically on them. Theorists like Norman Angell with his book “The Great
Illusion,” Immanuel Kant with “Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch,” and John Locke with
his “Law of Morality” were influential figures during this period. These all were growing at that
time and states were exercising their works.

 Idealists stated that human nature is optimistic but it was opposed by Edward Hallett Carr in his
book “The Twenty Year’s Crisis” in which he stated that humans are pessimistic (Realism).

 Afterwards, changes began to take place in theories. Institutions were building strong and states
interdependency was increased on it.

Important and Prominent Changes:

 Escalation (towards war) and De-escalation (getting back from war).
 Conflicts management and its resolution.
 Crisis management and its resolution.
 Nuclear proliferation and non-proliferation.
 Foreign policy analysis and decision-making.
 Nazism and Fascism.
 Marxism.