The Origins of the Second World War

In recent decades our understanding of the origins of World War II has been transformed both by the opening of the archives of the major combatant powers and by the re-orientation of international history itself away from a narrow preoccupation with diplomacy towards a more rounded conception embracing also the study of economics, strategy, propaganda and intelligence. The contributions presented in this volume represent these developments. Covering both the European and Asian Pacific conflicts, they address key debates and controversies: the roles of the democratic and revisionist powers; issues of economics, strategy and opinion; and the road to war itself. Editorial introductions situate each contribution in a broader context of scholarly writing and assess the likely significance for the shape of present and future debate.