Peace processes and diplomacy Notes

Peace Processes and Diplomacy: What Makes Peace Difficult to Secure?

1. Making peace is never simple. Even after weapons fall silent, countries must rebuild trust, negotiate fair terms, and repair the problems that caused the war in the first place.
2. World War I and World War II show how difficult this can be: both wars ended in different ways, and the peace that followed each conflict had very different results.
3. Together, they reveal not only how wars end, but also why securing lasting peace is so challenging.

How World War I Came to an End

1. World War I ended not because one side achieved total conquest, but because Germany collapsed from within.
2. Key reasons:
   1. Germany’s final offensives failed in 1918, leaving the army exhausted.
   2. The arrival of fresh U.S. troops strengthened the Allies and shifted momentum.
   3. Germany faced starvation, economic breakdown, and political crisis at home.
   4. The Kaiser abdicated, and the new government requested peace.
3. The Armistice of 11 November 1918 stopped the fighting, followed by the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919.

How World War II Came to an End

In Europe

1. WWII in Europe ended through complete military defeat of Nazi Germany:
   1. Allies advanced from the west; Soviets pushed from the east.
   2. Berlin fell; Hitler committed suicide.
   3. Germany surrendered unconditionally on 8 May 1945.

In the Pacific

1. Japan refused to surrender until:
   1. Atomic bombs devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
   2. The Soviet Union invaded Japanese-held territory.
   3. Economic collapse made further fighting impossible.
   4. Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945.

Why Peace After World War I Was Difficult

The Treaty of Versailles: A Peace Built on Punishment

1. The Treaty weakened Germany through:
   1. harsh reparations
   2. territorial losses
   3. strict military limits
   4. full blame for the war
2. Germany felt humiliated, creating anger and a desire for revenge.

New Borders but Old Tensions

1. The collapse of empires created new nations but:
   1. mixed rival ethnic groups
   2. created minority conflicts
   3. triggered border disputes
2. Instead of stabilising Europe, tensions grew.

The League of Nations Lacked Power

1. It failed because:
   1. it had no army
   2. the USA never joined
   3. major powers ignored it
   4. decisions required unanimous agreement
2. Without enforcement, diplomacy was powerless.

Why Peace After World War II Was Approached Differently

Reconstruction Instead of Revenge

1. Post-WWII leaders avoided repeating Versailles. They focused on:
   1. rebuilding Germany and Japan
   2. supporting economic recovery
   3. establishing democracies
   4. reducing resentment
2. This created more stable societies.

The United Nations Provided Stronger Structure

1. The UN:
   1. gave major powers permanent Security Council seats
   2. provided peacekeeping missions
   3. encouraged cooperation
2. It was not perfect, but far stronger than the League.

The Cold War Complicated Peace

1. After 1945:
   1. Europe split into Western (capitalist) and Eastern (communist) blocs
   2. both sides built nuclear arsenals
   3. diplomacy became a balancing act of fear and caution
2. The nuclear threat prevented open war but made global peace fragile.

What These Wars Teach Us About Why Peace Is Hard to Secure

1. Humiliation leads to future conflict
   1. Germany’s resentment after WWI helped extremists rise to power.
2. Economic instability creates political extremism
   1. The Great Depression undermined peace by empowering aggressive regimes.
3. Diplomacy collapses without trust
   1. Appeasement and miscommunication contributed to the outbreak of WWII.
4. Peace needs enforcement
   1. The League of Nations failed because it lacked power. The UN succeeded because it combined diplomacy with military authority.
5. Cooperation is essential
   1. After WWI, nations turned inward.
   2. After WWII, nations worked together and peace held more effectively.