Despotism and Democracy: The Great Modern Contest

Despotism and Democracy is a collection of ten short, highly readable essays about major themes in world history of the past century. Each essay provides a broad base of history for understanding, in succession: global prospects at the start of the 20th century; imperialism; the end of Western empires and the emergence of new nations; war and revolution, 1900-1945; cold war and its aftermath since 1945; totalitarianism; socialism; capitalism; the state and bureaucracy; major world faiths and their modern challenges. The overarching motif is the spread of Western ideals and institutions over the globe after 1900 and the ensuing contests between democratic and despotic governments to control that world. The book is aimed at the common reader as well as for the classroom and aims to present the best that has been thought and said about the various topics. For those interested in a deeper understanding, a selection of titles of the leading specialized studies is provided "for further reading."