History of the 20th century - Introduction by Alan Bullock

The world of 1900 was dominated by two Empires: those of Queen Victoria and Kaiser Wilhelm; as the 20th century opened the imperialistic rivalries of these powers threatened  world peace. The capitalist system was under attack from Marxists, and the prevailing cultural traditions were under fire. 

Today's world is dominated by the fierce race of the two new superpowers, Soviet Russia and the United States, for political expansion and nuclear domination. China's forceful emergence has added a new and threatening dimension to tensions of this rivalry. Today's world is a world of revolution and political violence, riots and terrorism. Man's dream of freedom appears further away than ever.

The History of the 20th Century chronicles the main political developments of the last 75 years: the World Wars, the decline of the British Empire, the rise of Soviet Russia, the era of the dictators - Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Franco - the wars in the Middle East and Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, the controversial role of the United States, and the development of Europe as the world's most powerful trading bloc. The text has been written by a team of eminent historians and is vividly illustrated throughout.