"Political scientist Bertrand Badie posits that no genuine peace treaty has been signed since 1945"
Revised Article:
Peace After World War II: The Split Among Allies According to Political Scientist Bertrand Badie
Let's talk '45—the year that wrapped up World War II. Scientist Bertrand Badie, a Professor Emeritus at Sciences Po Paris, dives deep into the sociology of international relations and dissects the concept of peace back then. As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, Badie's latest work, "The Art of Peace" (Flammarion, 2024), stirs thoughts on the remnants of the world order forged in '45. But did the Allies share the same understanding of peace after the war?
In '45, the Allies found a common ground in the multisecular code passed down from the birth of nation-states in Europe, a normative framework rooted in power competition among sovereign states, regardless of ideological or societal concerns. However, the seeds of disruption were sown with WWII. This breakdown boils down to three groundbreaking elements.
- Ideologies in the Spotlight War, meet ideology. Before '45, battles were more or less fought without much regard for ideologies. But the war catalyzed a clash between liberal democracies, Nazism, and Stalinism, transforming these ideological tensions into significant points of contention within global relations.
- Civil Societies Calling the Shots A post-WWII world saw civil societies playing an increasingly active role in international politics. From then on, their resistance and resilience started to drive much of international conflict history, with mainstream public opinions persistently challenging state-centric diplomacy.
- The Loss of Dominance of Force In '45, the powers were at the height of their military and political might—the Allies triumphed over the Nazi monster, granting them a sense of virtue. But it was understood, after the liberation, that force alone was no longer enough to secure the desired political outcomes in the future.
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Further Insights:
- The emergence of potent ideologies during WWII polarized the international landscape, challenging the traditional power-based competition among sovereign states and dismantling the post-war order.
- The influence of civil societies—from resistance movements to public opinions—represented a significant shift in international politics, marking a gradual departure from state-centric diplomacy and power politics.
- The awareness that mere military force was no longer a guarantee of lasting peace and security introduced a more intricate and unstable international landscape after 1945. These elements have obstructed the establishment of a genuine, long-lasting peace treaty since the end of WWII.
[1] Adapted from enrichment data.
Bertrand Badie's latest work, "The Art of Peace" (Flammarion, 2024), sheds light on the remnants of the world order forged in 1945, questioning the shared understanding of peace among the Allies. The seeds of disruption were sown with WWII, as ideologies moved from the sidelines to take center stage, transforming into significant points of contention.
Civil societies significantly influenced international politics post-WWII, adding resistance and resilience to the mix of international conflict history. Their participation has marked a gradual departure from state-centric diplomacy, as mainstream public opinions challenged traditional power politics.
The aftermath of 1945 introduced a realization that mere military force was no longer enough to secure lasting peace and security, as the powers transitioned from the height of their dominance to a more complex international landscape. The emergence of potent ideologies and the rise of civil societies in the politics of that era have obstructed the establishment of a genuine, long-lasting peace treaty since the end of WWII.
Badie's insights offer valuable perspectives on the role of Professor Badie in examining the sociology of international relations during the split among Allies after World War II.
