Tara Zahra's Against the World: Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics Between the World Wars covers a lot of ground in exploring how different nations, and individuals within them, focused inward or attempted to establish a new world order, to rebuild or restructure in response to the first world war and the Great Depression. The central term of this work is autarky defined as nations seeking economic independence or self-sufficiency. Zahra explores this concept in places it succeeded and failed and how it continues to shape our society.

As the world grew smaller in the late 19th century and early 20th century with the advent of more accessible travel and speedier communication methods, we grew more inter connected. But this process was not all embraced, and Zahra looks at both those who benefited and the reactionaries and victims of globalization.

Despite the title, Zahra does expand the scope to address some content from before 1914 and when discussing Germany does extend beyond the end of World War II. While there are some sections about the League of Nations, India and other colonial territories, the bulk of the book is focused on European nations and the United States in the inter war years.

Some of the specific individuals highlighted throughout the book are pacifist and feminist Rosika Schwimmer, industrialist and anti-semite Henry Ford, fascist leader Hitler and Mussolini, Ghandi, Stefan Zweig or the Bat'a shoe company.

Looking at events that occurred a century, or almost a century ago, Zahra excellently surveys many of the challenges and tensions that factored in the eventuality of World War II and the peace that would follow. Recommended to any reader of 20th century history.

A great overview of how Western policy changes between the World Wars shaped the era and how the repercussions are still felt today. Before World War I, visas and passports were not required to travel or emigrate, allowing a level of freedom of movement not seen today. Post WWI saw massive changes in state policies focusing inward on becoming an autarky by supporting domestic food production and industry and attempting to ban people, often specific groups of people, from immigrating. The policies and actions taken then still reverberate today in the current global outlook, global makeup and resource distribution, and global economic inequality. The language of the book is accessible to readers and will provide a good starting point for those interested in learning more about how the past has influenced current affairs and directed the current global trajectory.

Against The World : Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics Between the World Wars by Tara Zahira. This book more than exceeded my expectations based upon the title. It is an excellent read and should be of interest to anyone wanting to understand the Western world and what shaped people and country’s opinions that led to WW II. I learned many facts and aspects of how the 1st World War changed the way people and nations changed after the war. For example, prior to WWI it was possible if you had money to travel anywhere no passport or visa required. There was growing globalization so that many products and food were available far from where they were produced. But the war changed all this and “de-globalization or autarky meaning countries looked to be self-sufficient became the goal. This led to an increase in nationalism and looking to ban those who were different. The Jews of course rose to the top of this list and in many cases became stateless. Even the US throughout of the country over 1 million American born Mexican children in order to make America “more pure”. Immigration to the US from the leading European countries was reduced by a factor of 100 after the war. So much of this seems relevant today. And for sure the most important factor that led to WW II in my opinion was the Treaty of Versailles that punished Germany so severely that the rise of a populist like Hitler becomes easy to understand. Led by the US, a blockade on food entering Germany began with the treaty. People in Germany and other Eastern European countries were starving. There is so much more in this book in terms of loss of empire, resetting state boundaries and the reason for the rise of Fascism and Communism that the author does a reasonable job of presenting. One last point I think to consider about this book is how will we treat Russia after the current war is over. Too severe of punishment could lead to a Russia that will later lash out just as Germany did. All in all a book well worth the read.

An incredibly relevant book in today's socio-political climate, that draws connections throughout history to show readers 'how we got here'. The influences of wars, pandemics, and political ideologies of the past are reviewed and connected to the events of today.