Emeritus professor at Sciences Po Paris, political scientist Bertrand Badie focuses his research on the sociology of international relations. On the occasion of the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War II, the author of around 30 books, including the latest titled L'Art de la paix ("The Art of Peace," untranslated, 2024), reflects on what remains of the world order established in 1945.

At the end of World War II, did the Allies all have the same conception of peace?

In 1945, they agreed on the centuries-old code inherited from the birth of nation-states in Europe during the modern era: This normative framework was based on a competition of power between sovereign states without any ideological or social concerns. However, with World War II, this system broke down and after 1945, it practically ceased to function.

This breakdown resulted from three unprecedented elements. The first is the strong emergence of ideologies. Previously, wars were rarely fought in their name, but with World War II, the clash between liberal democracies, Nazism and the Stalinist order transformed ideological tensions into confrontational factors.

The second is the social appropriation of the international game. From World War II onward, a significant part of its history comes from the resistance of civil societies. During subsequent wars, this resilience of public opinion increased – and it never disappeared.

The third is the beginning of the decline of the principle of force. In 1945, the powers were at their zenith. The Allies had defeated the Nazi monster, which gave them a taste of victory, but it became apparent after the Liberation that force alone would no longer produce the expected results in the future.

What remains today of the peace concluded in 1945?

You have 79.66% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.