Thursday, May 16, 2019

1947: Where Now Begins





1947: Where Now Begins by Elisabeth Asbrink is a fascinating book about the post-war world.  Written as a series vignettes, Asbrink shows how 1947 was a key year for the formation of world order. In many ways, we are living with the results (or failed results) of this pivotal year.

This was the year when UNSCOP issued its report recommending the partition of Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state.  Britain rushed through its own talks in India, drawing boundaries between India and Pakistan that would cause lasting animosity and violence.  

Europe was in ashes, but looking for a way forward.  Things had ended, but not really; Asbrink devotes considerable time to the fascist underground that developed in Sweden in 1947, and laid the foundation for far right nationalist movements we see today.

1947 is well written, extensively researched, and pertinent for our time.

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