Many other countries have struggled to reconcile their differences after lesser conflicts, so what events and policies made peace among us something we most take for granted?
In: 25
One of the reasons is the lessons learnt from WW1. After WW1, the allies placed massive punitive measures on Germany. This led to hyperinflation and destroyed the economy. The resulting massive social unrest contributed to the rise of the Nazis and ultimately WW2.
After WW2, the US (primarily) provided assistance to all the economies damaged by the war. Over the course of the Cold war, both Japan (somewhat forced) and Germany (somewhat popular) adopted very pacifist attitudes.
The anti communist stance of the US and allies in the Cold war also made it rather easier for countries like Germany and Japan (bordering the Warsaw Pact countries and Russia) to integrate with the new order.
As rapid industrialization took place post WW2, it became pretty evident to Germany and Japan (both with highly educated and homogenous populations) that they needed trade to prosper. Neither of them are resource rich and military expropriation was no longer feasible given the outcome of WW2 and the rapid breakup of colonial empires.
To have trade, it was always more reasonable (aided no doubt by the thousands of US troops stationed in their country) to align with the biggest economy at the time.
Latest Answers