1918, 1945, 1989: Winning is only the beginning (SPUI25)

– In samenwerking met NIOD Instituut voor Oorlogs-, Holocaust- en Genocidestudies – 

1918, 1945 and 1989: These three moments in the 20th century have changed the geopolitical landscape of Europe in a fundamental way. This event explores the limits to state building in societies after war victory. With: John Paul Newman, Peter Romijn.

In 1918, in the aftermath of the First World War, Great Empires fell apart and new states created a new international order. In 1945, European countries were dealing with the devastation the Nazis had brought about. The Allied forces divided the continent in East and West. The Cold War saw growing tensions in the international order on a global scale, and led to an even larger polarization between East and West. With the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, Communist regimes fell and new democracies slowly emerged. It is commonly held that state building in victorious societies is a fluent and relatively easy process. During this event, the limits of state building in victorious post-war societies will be discussed, by looking at three pivotal moments of triumph in Europe’s history: 1918, 1945, and 1989.

About the speakers
Dr John Paul Newman (Senior Lecturer in Twentieth-century European History; current NIOD-fellow) will give a short lecture on the general concept of this culture of victory, and will illustrate this with examples from his area of expertise: the Balkans.

Prof. Dr. Peter Romijn (Senior Researcher at the NIOD) will focus in his lecture on the effects of victory on the political transitions of post-war societies in central Europe after the Second World War.

Register
You can sign up for this program for free. If you subscribe for the program we count on your presence. If you are unable to attend, please let us know via spui25@uva.nl | T: +31 (0)20 525 8142.

www.spui25.nl