Where Have All the Soldiers Gone?: The Transformation of Modern Europe
by James J. Sheehan
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Book Summary Information
Author: James J. SheehanEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-01-10
ISBN: 0618353968
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Book Reviews of Where Have All the Soldiers Gone?: The Transformation of Modern Europe
Book Review: Interesting But Incomplete The Transformation of the European Nations Into Civilian States
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an important book that only earns four stars due to the many questions left unsaid and unanswered. Sheehan chronicles the transformation of Europe from a collection of military garrison states geared for war as necessary to civilian states that do not look to war or violence of any kind to resolve problems. The historical treatise is done well if lightly with many generalizations in about 170 pages. The remainder of the 227 pages is discussion that is well worth reading.
The author traces the rise of conscription armies required to meet very real threats from neighbors and how pacifism was marginalized as an alternative before World War I. The reality of WWI shocked everyone, and the states that moved toward providing social benefits to their populations rather than confronting aggression militarily between the wars were forced to rely on the Soviet Union and the US to regain their sovereign status. England fought Germany to the last Frenchman in WWI, and when that supply ran out was saved by American intervention. Having learned nothing when World War II rolled around, England again attempted to fight Germany to the last Frenchman, but the French only lasted four weeks. The Soviets became unexpected allies when attacked by Germany, but even then the US had to be brought in to save Western Europe from Germany (and communism.) I guess it's nice to be needed.
Then the malaise set in. Living comfortably under an American military security blanket, Europe was free to develop its economy and social programs while military expenditures remained static. Heroism disappeared as an admirable trait, and the nations transformed themselves to boring, stable, civilian states.
Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989-1991, the neighboring enemy disappeared and Europe became even more complacent. The author goes into the various attempts to form an effective European Force to handle immediate crises, but as Kosovo showed, their efforts were less than successful. The Dutch contingent of soldiers sent to maintain order proved to be unable to defend those refugees in their charge, and indeed, even to defend themselves. The softness of the societies was further shown by the minimal revolutionary fervor developed after 1968 that dissipated fairly readily and without excessive violence.
As a result the author argues that Europe will never become a superpower player although it possesses enormous economic power and a high standard of living. Even more than the US, Europe is a continent in decline, ripe to be conquered by a virile, outside force able to commit itself to violence as a strategy and governed by principles of honor, brotherhood and warrior prowess.
There are many fine analyses of this transformation, but the author leaves the question as to why this has come about for the reader to discover on his own. One is tempted to cite the loss of France's manhood in WWI and England's loss of its colonies (and base of grandeur), but the author does not go heavily into discussing this aspect. In addition, the long term success of this trend in providing security to Europe's citizens is clearly in doubt, and the author does not belabor the likelihood of that success. One is left to wonder if the US should pull out all its troops and airforce units from Europe and let Europe go it alone. After the US, what then? I believe from reading this book the answer from Europe would be, "Who cares? We'll handle things somehow." Maybe so, but Europe's history is to call in the American fire brigade to pull its chestnuts out of the fire.
Nonetheless, the author came close to convincing me that pacifism is a realistic alternative to a military option and that the US should consider emulating Europe, particularly since we have oceans between us and likely enemies. Then my natural conservative skepticism took hold and brought me back to consider the risks. Still, there is much to learn and ponder here, and the author is to be commended.
Buy & read this book, regardless of your political orientation.
Summary of Where Have All the Soldiers Gone?: The Transformation of Modern Europe
In this lively and ambitious book, James Sheehan chartswhat is perhaps the most radical shift in Europe's history:
its transformation from war-torn battlefield to peaceful,
prosperous society. For centuries, war was Europe's defining
narrative, affecting every aspect of political, social, and cultural
life. But afterWorldWar II, Europe began to reimagine
statehood, rejecting ballooning defense budgets in favor of
material well-being, social stability, and economic growth.
Where Have All the Soldiers Gone? reveals how and why this
happened, and what it means for America and the rest of the
world.
With remarkable insight and clarity, Sheehan covers the
major intellectual and political events in Europe over the past
one hundred years, from the pacifist and militarist movements
of the early twentieth century and two catastrophic world
wars to the fall of the BerlinWall and the heated debate over
Iraq.This authoritative history provides much-needed context
for understanding the fractured era in which we live.we live.
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