The World Divided — I. Communism

Abstract

As was observed at the beginning of the previous chapter, it is no new experience to find the world divided into two hostile blocs of powers, with the threat of war over-shadowing the lives of many millions of people. This situation can in fact be regarded almost as the normal state of affairs; and, since it has already recurred three times since 1900 — in the years before 1914, in the later 1930’s, and since 1948 onwards — seems to be as characteristic of this century so far as of any other. Moreover on each of the two previous occasions in this century — as in most similar situations in recent history — the threat did in fact eventually culminate in war. It is little to be wondered at, therefore, that at the present time the cleavage between the Communist bloc and the West is the centre of interest in world affairs, and must dominate this book. In addition, the advent of nuclear weapons, whose unprecedented destructiveness makes the prospect of major war so fearful, immensely increases the tragedy of the cleavage and the urgency of the need to resolve it peacefully.