War is one place where the complexity of victory and defeat should be explored more deeply. Unfortunately, war--whether experienced directly as a soldier in Afghanistan or a Syrian in an Aleppo suburb, or indirectly through a news item on the Internet or American television--is a near inescapable aspect of most people's daily life. Yet unless…

The simplest and most widely held definition of Social Darwinism is the application of concepts of biological evolution to social and moral development. More specifically, it is social evolution through "survival of the fittest" in a "struggle for existence" in which the strong prevail and the weak are defeated and disappear.…

The purpose of this essay is to identify and direct the reader to some of the new trends in interpreting the Russian Revolution. (Author/JR)

This article reviews the historiography of the origins of World War I in light of Fritz Fischer's book which places responsibility for the war on German economic ambitions. (DE)

Reviews and questions the traditional established interpretation that the French Revolution was about feudalism. Concludes that revisionist historians have cast doubt upon the orthodox theory but that they have not supplied an alternative explanation. (Author/DB)

Examines studies of Fritz Fischer's works (1961 and 1969) concerning Germany's responsibility for World War I and the influence of this work upon later interpretations. Presents an integrated interpretation of the causes of the war based upon recent research findings. (RKM)

Analyzes previous interpretations concerning the French Revolution. Discusses several weaknesses of the Marxist views in light of recent philosophical and sociological thinking about social change. (RKM)

Discusses the historiography of the Cold War, identifying five points central to orthodox interpretation, another five made by revisionist historians, and four by postrevisionists on the topic. Reexamines these interpretations, probing into their implications and identifying major points of conflict. (AEM)

Examines the French Popular Front of 1936 as a vehicle to investigate the turbulent decade of the 1930s. Reviews current historiography and discusses various facets of Leon Blum's government, examining the interrelationship of major economic and political forces. Concludes that the French Left still faces Blum's dilemma of implementing socialism…

Recounts the life and writings of noted U. S. historian, Carl Becker. Provides an analysis of his influence on the academic study of European history in the United States. (JDH)

Reviews the strengths of Kenneth Cooper's updated 1984 edition of Carl Becker's MODERN HISTORY. Contends that while other high school history textbooks sell better, that Becker's text does a better job of teaching European history while helping students develop the advanced academic skills needed for higher education. (JDH)

It was not until the turn of the twelfth century that a debate arose in which the relative merits of poetry and prose for the expression of historical truth were weighed. Poetry was found lacking and prose acknowledged as the only proper language of historical truth in the Middle Ages. (RM)

Argues that the British industrial revolution was in no sense inevitable and scarcely deserves the term "revolution." Examined are the characteristics which the British shared with other Europeans and ways in which they were distinctive that enabled them to become the first industrial nation. (RM)

Compares basic themes in women's history and the Western civilization survey course and concludes that women's studies do not assimilate comfortably because women are not a part of the heroic epics upon which European history is based. (CK)

Surveys evaluations of Immanuel Wallerstein's "The Modern World-System" by specialists in early modern history and examines Wallerstein's influence on early modern historiography. Concludes by considering some attempts to synthesize world-systems analysis with other approaches. (LS)