In this lively and ambitious book, James Sheehan, former president of the American Historical Association, charts what 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 after World War 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 Berlin Wall and the heated debate over Iraq. This authoritative history provides much-needed context for understanding the fractured era in which we live.
"Scintillating . . . Excellent." The New York Times Book Review
"Timely, first-rate." The Washington Post
"Clear and fluid . . . [a] fine contribution to European studies." Publishers Weekly
"A worthy contribution to geopolitics." Kirkus Reviews
"Truly impressive." - Virginia Quarterly Review
"A triumph of humane historical portrayal, a treasure for citizens and students alike.” —Fritz Stern, Columbia University
"Obligatory reading for anybody seeking to understand the cultural-strategic estrangement between Europe and the United States.” —Josef Joffe, Stanford University
"James Sheehan, the distinguished historian of modern Germany, now focuses on a momentous European-wide story.” —Charles S. Maier, Harvard University
“Sheehan offers a penetrating analysis of the role of warfare in shaping Europe." —David M. Kennedy, Stanford University
"Truly deserves the epithet 'magisterial' . . . as compelling as it is concise.” —Niall Ferguson, Harvard University
