The Origins of the Contemporary Global Order

“Carl Strikwerda’s searching account of the collapse of the informal global order before the Great War and the reconstruction of a rules-based order after 1945 is of great importance in understanding how we have arrived at the present, and how we might respond in the future.”  

—Martin Daunton , Emeritus Professor of Economic History, University of Cambridge

“A perfect mastery of historical detail side-by-side with thorough familiarity of political theory have shaped this book into what will no doubt become a modern classic.”

—Gerd-Rainer Horn , Professor of Political History, Ecole des Sciences Politiques

" A persuasive and timely reconsideration of the most important events of the last century."  

—Craig N. Murphy , Betty Freyhof Johnson ’44 Professor Emeritus, Wellesley College

“Carl Strikwerda reminds us brilliantly of the epochal impact of the First World War on the formation of the global order in the second half of the twentieth century.”

—Guy Vanthemsche , Professor of History Emeritus, Free University Brussels (VUB)

This book offers a new interpretation of the origins of the contemporary global order - the set of institutions and international practices created by the USA and its allies after the Second World War. Previous interpretations have argued that the USA played the predominant role in creating the global order to fight the Cold War against the Soviet Union. The author argues that a broader perspective is necessary to understand both the origins of the global order, and its ongoing tensions up until today, a perspective that includes the legacy of both world wars, the role of imperialism, and the alternative strategy of globally oriented economic blocs. The cooperative tradition in the founding of the global order and the contributions of nations besides the USA provides useful insights for those interested in the current global order and the challenges it faces from Russia and China.

Carl J. Strikwerda has served as a historical consultant to the National World War One Museum in the USA, taught at the University of California, Riverside; the University of Kansas; and the College of William and Mary, and served as both President and Professor of History at Elizabethtown College.