1946: The Making of the Modern World

“1946 was the year after the end of the Second World War. That year: The United States completed its accumulation of political, economic, and military capital, setting out on the path to becoming a superpower; Churchill delivered his Iron Curtain speech, dividing continental Europe along ideological lines and ushering in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union; The reactionary Nationalist government brazenly tore up the ceasefire agreement, and a new civil war erupted across China; Emperor Showa issued the Declaration of Humanity, and MacArthur began reshaping Japan; The British Empire could no longer conceal its decline, and India declared independence... From Berlin to Washington, London to Moscow, Delhi to Shanghai, the author draws on a wealth of archival material and firsthand oral accounts. Through gripping details and thought-provoking anecdotes, the book vividly shows how crucial the year of peace was in shaping the world we live in today. It covers nearly every major postwar theme and pivotal event, presenting a richly informative, compelling, and accessible history. May this book guide readers through the upheavals of that era, helping them better understand how the modern world came into being and where we might be headed in the future.”