To What Extent Should Nations Pursue Internationalism?

Social Studies 20-1

To what extent should nations pursue internationalism? “The most tragic paradox of our time is to be found in the failure of nation-states to recognize the imperatives of internationalism”, this is a quote from Earl Warren. His quote brings up that when countries get together, good things happen, when countries have an international viewpoint, conflicts wrap up quicker and less violent. Peace and cooperation is a big part of internationalism, as well as collective international security. One side of this essay is internationalism, the state or process of being international. The other side is isolationism, a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries. This issue is a complex one because countries have to give up self-interest in order to contribute a larger international initiative. My position on the issue is that Earl Warren is one hundred percent right, every time countries get together something good happens.

The E.U. is an argument in would like to make. The European Union is formed January 1st, 1958 and it includes 28 countries. The European Union is setup with aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World War. As of 1950, the European coal and steel community begins to unite European countries economically and politically in order to secure lasting peace. The president of the European commission is Jean-Claude Juncker. My opinion is if Britain leaves the EU, all the other countries are interdependent and need Britain’s support to be economically solid. The E.U. helped bring a lasting peace to Europe and promotes prosperity, innovation, opportunity and choice.

Another argument I would like to bring up, is Canada in Vimy Ridge in April 9th to 12th in 1917 the battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the battle of Arras, during the first world war. The main combatants were the Canadian corps against the German sixth army. The known leader at the time for Canada was Julian Byng and the German leader was Ludwig von Falkenhausen. The death toll for the Canadians was 3,598 killed, for the German the death toll is unknown but 4,000 soldiers were captured. At Vimy Ridge Canada beats Germany after four days to gain independence from Britain and gains allies from fighting at Vimy, the international sacrifices of the troops fighting in World War One are the ultimate sacrifices for international peace. It was the international commitment that made Canada what it is today, a sovereign nation.

My last argument is about World War Two. On September 1st 1939, world war Two began, the six year war ended on September 2nd 1945. A war fought from 1939 to 1945 between the axis powers- Germany, Italy, and Japan- and the allies, including France and Britain, and later the Soviet Union and the United States. There were 23 allies of the war and the axis countries were Nazi Germany, Empire of Japan, and the Kingdom of Italy, these three countries were called the tripartite pact. The main leaders of the allies were Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill. The leaders of the axis were Adolf Hitler, Hirohito, and Benito Mussolini. The casualties and losses of the allies from World War Two were over 16,000,000 dead military, over 45,000,000 civilian deaths and a total of over 61,000,000 people dying. Axis suffered less with over 8, 000, 00 military