Topic– Norman Lowe; Mastering World History; International Relations, 1919-33
1) A number of successor states were born out of the first world war but most of those successor states soon developed serious problems and weaknesses. Examine.(250 words)
Directive word
Examine- here we have to probe deeper into the topic, get into details, and find out the causes or implications if any.
Key demand of the question
The question wants us to probe deeper into the formation of several successor states which were born out of the first world war and bring out the reasons as to why those successor states developed serious problems and weaknesses.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few lines about the outcome of the first world war and the successor states formed after the war. e.g mention the breakup of Austria-Habsburg empire and loss of territory by Russia and Germany out of which a number of successor states were formed including Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary and Poland.
Body–
Discuss in points the weaknesses of those states and the reasons of their failure. e.g There were so many different nationalities in the region that it was impossible for them all to have their own state. Consequently it was only the larger national groups which were lucky enough to have their own homeland. Smaller nationalities found themselves once again under what they considered to be ‘foreign’ governments, which, so they claimed, did not look after their interests – for example, Croats in Yugoslavia, Slovaks and Germans in Czechoslovakia, and Germans, White Russians and Ukrainians in Poland; Czechoslovakia was the only one in which democracy survived for a significant length of time; They all suffered economic difficulties, especially after the onset of the Great Depression in the early 1930s; The states were divided by rivalries and disputes over territory etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
