Tag: European History
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The Forgotten Stance: A Brief History of Spanish Non-Belligerence in World War Two
Owen James explores how Spain narrowly avoided World War II, debunking the myth of Franco’s “astute caution”. The article highlights the failed Hendaye meeting, where excessive imperial demands clashed with Hitler’s goals, and the Blue Division’s anti-communist crusade, proving Spanish non-belligerence was a result of necessity, not design.
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Politics of Memory: The Kosovo Myth and the Rise of Serbian Nationalism
Edie Christian explores the Yugoslav Wars from 1991 to 2001, driven by ethnic tensions and Serbian nationalism, especially following Tito’s death. Slobodan Milošević exploited the Kosovo myth, linking historical victimization to bolster nationalist sentiment. His rhetoric incited violence and civil conflict, culminating in war crimes resulting in approximately 140,000 deaths and significant displacement.
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Dressing Up: Eighteenth Century Politeness and Fashionable Aspiration in Britain
Abby Hughes details the quest for exclusivity which shaped fashion aspirations amongst the British middle class of the eighteenth century.
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Dominium Maris Baltici: Baltic trade and diplomacy in Sweden’s Great Power Era
In the 17th century, Sweden shifted its foreign policy towards monopolising Baltic trade after colonial failures. George Purdy explains this in detail through strategic alliances and diplomacy with powers like the Dutch and the English, enhancing Sweden’s economic standing and regional influence, setting the stage for its emergence as a significant European power.
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National Communism and Personal Power: Ceauşescu’s Dictatorship and Romania’s Eastern Bloc Exception, 1965-1989
Seanryan Lai discusses the regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu (1965–1989) one of Eastern Europe’s most eccentric dictators. Unique among Eastern Bloc states, Romania pursued independent policies away from Soviet control. This created “national communism,” fusing Marxist-Leninism with Romanian nationalism and a strong cult of personality
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Dance until you Drop; The Dancing Plague of 1518
Abbie Teal narrates how, in 1518 Strasbourg, a bizarre contagion known as the Dancing Plague caused frenzied dancing and death.
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A Machiavellian Law
The Ummayyad Caliphate successfully expanded into Spain, changing the culture of the peninsula. Emilio Luppino discusses how the interactions between Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures in Spain.
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‘A Worthy Son’? King Philip V of France
The issue of succession in medieval France was highly contentious. Harry Child evaluates the legacy of King Philip V of France, exploring his efforts towards domestic stability and successful foreign policy.
Retrospect Journal 