How Does Conflict Impact on Society? (Needs Touching Up)

How does conflict impact on society? Brady Miell
This truly global conflict was on a scale of destruction that no other conflict had been on before, and may never been surpassed. Such was the magnitude of devastation and loss of human life which could have led to the collapse of society that in the modern world, everything is done by civilised nations to avoid conflict between one another. These conflicts are avoided for the reason it might escalate and surpass World War Two in damage and affect. In previous conflicts the effects such as casualties and starvation were limited to the military’s fighting in actual conflict. Entire civilian populations were push to the brink of collapse by political, economic and social factors not affiliated in conflicts gone by. More than ever, society itself would be affected heavily and would suffer for six years of war. The effects will still linger long after the surrender terms have been signed and the last shots have been fired.
Political effects of World War Two are broad and varied. Neville Chamberlain resigned due to popular demand after showing weakness in various occasions such as “piece in our time” and the German occupation of Norway. King George VI asked Winston Churchill, then first lord of admiralty, to be Prime Minister and lead Britain through the conflict. Another example of political effects is Ho Chi Minh seized the opportunity to rebel against French rule in August 1945 and lead Vietnam to Communism. World War Two, from an abstract reflection, can also be considered a three way struggle between liberal democracies such as Britain and the United States, Soviet Russia’s communism and Adolf Hitler’s and Benito Mussolini’s fascism. National politics decreased in importance and was scarcely a discussion topic anymore, e.g. there wasn’t an election in wartime Britain. After the end of conflict, fascism fell and communism was no longer contained to Russia. Borders were changed e.g. Germany was divided into East and West and Eastern Europe was incorporated into a Soviet controlled Eastern Bloc. Colonies in other continents such as India declared independence and European powers like Britain faded. Although empires like Britain and France fell, their places were taken by larger and more powerful nations than ever before. Two super powers, United States and Soviet Russia, were shaped by the conflict and would fight a struggle against another for the next 46 years. World War Two would have longer and lasting affects politically with the rise of Communism and the new found independence of developing nations.
World War affected every single nation economically, but not necessarily in a negative manner. In the United States, entry into the war in 1941 snapped the depression of the 1930’s when millions were employed by the war effort. Unemployment in the United States decreased from 18.9% in 1938 to just 1.2% in 1944, workers also invested a sum of their salaries into war bonds. Hitler’s desire of a large military meant more workers were required in factories. Nazi Germany use millions of slaves to aid the economy and had the highest percentage of production per a capita in the war (this statistic includes work done by slave labour and occupied country’s production, the capita only accounts for German citizens during the war). Trading was limited for most nations by the conflict. Exceptions include Sweden; their exports were boosted by Germany’s need for particularly iron ore and Switzerland; their now renowned banking companies boomed due to the influx of Third Reich money being stored in their systems. Air Forces were employed more strategically than tactically than in other conflicts involving aircraft. Saturation bombing decimated industrial suburbs of cities and commonly inflicted heavy collateral damage on nearby civilian populations. The bombing, particularly for the Allies, did severely limit Germany’s production abilities and gave a more sizable advantage than what tactical bombing on actual military targets could have provided. Economies of nations heavily involved were changed to war production and the preservation of resources to their civilian population. Small businesses changed from currency to accepting government coupons for their products, actually earning a larger profit than during the depression years. Corporations which had survived the depression found business boomed if they played their cards right such as Ford who made vehicles for both Nazi Germany and the allies. The Coca-Cola Company produced coke for the US but their second most famous drink, Fanta, was actually an official soft drink of Nazi Germany. Economically, World War Two stimulated many countries after the depression years and forced involved nations to ration their resources.
As fore mentioned, World War Two affected society more than ever and the main section affected was the social element. Civilians were often involved in sieges were subject to brutal sanctions by their own leaders. An example is the siege of Leningrad, food was in such a short supply that the “bread” (quote as it probably wouldn’t be classed as bread) ration to just a slice a day. Refugees fled from predominantly German and Soviet advances, leaving loved ones and belongings behind and often having to forge an entire new life. Substantial numbers were employed in the war effort and were most commonly displaced from their workplace and community. The large numbers of men leaving their occupation had to be replaced, there weren’t enough men left to feed the war production industry’s needs. The answer was to give women a more prominent role in work and to, in a hand full of nations, force slave labour to produce their captors’ weapons. Women were liberated from their socially ideal restraints of housework and part time, mediocre work to participate with the remaining males for new war time jobs. The dread and gloom of the depression were lifted as nations citizens were united together in the war effort. Certain racial prejudice also intensified such as the persecution of Jews by Nazi’s and antagonism aimed towards Japanese-Americans. Other racial prejudice such as the discrimination of Negroes in the United States and “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels” in New Guinea was overlooked so they could aid in the war effort. Social classes changed as the middle class was restored after its brief hiatus during the depression and subsequently communities were re-established. In the United States, High School attendance fell from 7 million in 1940 to 5 million in 1944, showing how the war forced everyone to mature hastily and to act short term. Life around the home was changed, as “black outs” were enforced and many families built bomb shelters in their yards. Children, chiefly in Great Britain, were forced to live rurally to avoid the Luftwaffe’s Blitz and families were separated. Overall, the war was not entirely atrocious socially as certain aspects were improved such as the liberation of women from housework and the start of eradication of racial prejudice in the United States. Other aspects were horrible e.g. the separation of families and the genocide of Jews known as the Holocaust.
World War Two severely affected all portions of Society and effected society itself like no other conflict had and hopefully will. The foundation of a political struggle was laid and colonial empires fell in the conflicts aftermath. The Soviet Union and the United States would struggle against one another for regional spheres of influence leading on from Fascisms struggle for power. Weak leaders withered under the pressure and some of the greatest political reputations of history such as Winston Churchill’s were forged. The hold of the economic depression was snapped by government’s need to spend on armaments and unemployment dropped globally. World trade was generally hindered due to European nations needing armaments over other imports. Rations and coupons hindered the development of private businesses except for peculiar cases such as The Coca-Cola Companies war profiteering. Many long term social trends formed during the war, such as more freedom for women in work and the beginning of the end of racial prejudice. Communities were re-established after the depression years and nationalism was reborn in many nations. World War Two will never be forgotten for its mass destruction, genocide and devastation. The effects on society itself will always be remembered and hopefully not repeated.

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