Explain the impact of the First World War on European society and polity.

The First World War left a deep imprint on European society and polity. It had a devastating impact on the entire
continent.

(i) In society, soldiers were ranked higher than civilians. Trench life of the soldiers was glorified by the media.

(ii) Politicians and publicists laid great stress on the need for men to be aggressive and masculine.

(iii) Aggressive war propaganda and national honour occupied centre stage in the public sphere.

(iv) People’s support grew for the recently established dictatorships.

(v) Democracy as a young and fragile idea could not survive the instabilities of Europe between the two World Wars.