Where Have All The Soldiers Gone?: The Transformation of Modern Europe – An Authoritative Political History from War to Peace and Prosperity

James J. Sheehan's "Where Have All the Soldiers Gone?" is an excellent 230-page history of 20th Century Europe, when it miraculously changed from its ignominious history of murder and genocide to perhaps the most peaceful multi-national place on the planet. It appears that Europeans are so tired of war, so exhausted from the effects of killing each other for centuries and so enamored with the prospect of economic superiority that as a group of nations and disparate peoples, they have become the conscience of earth. That this has all happened in 50 short years is beyond miraculous; it is a mind-bogglingly stupendous achievement. Perhaps a true "United States of Europe" is but a few years away. The complete unification would result in a unified foreign policy as well as economic policy. The first half of the book was easier for Sheehan to write, because the effects of Europe's bloody past are well-documented. Thus, we learn the truth about the cost of war in the statistics of millions killed or displaced, of cities and economies in ruin and of people utterly despondent. The second half of the book is harder for Sheehan, because the verdict is not yet in on the success of Europe's valiant efforts toward peace and prosperity. Enough time has not passed to see if it will really last, and if it is really true. The major failure in his astonishingly insightful and brief summary of this amazing phenomenon is his omission that the USA is largely responsible for it. Why do I say this? Not only did the USA pay for the rebuilding of Western Europe after WWII, but the occupation of Europe by the USA military from 1945 to 1991 gave Europe TIME to recover, TIME to re-think their purposes, and TIME to declare to the world that war was no longer an option - for anything. And who paid for those 50 years of recovery/rethinking? You did. I did. The taxpayer of the USA. Sheehan never really acknowledges that fact. I wish he had. Nonetheless, his book is superb. Everyone over 60 and under 40 should read it. For the over 60 folks, it reminds us what we went through and what we paid for. For the under 40 folks, it teaches you what you should know and remember. Finally, "Where Have All the Soldiers Gone" reminds us all of the absolute idiocy and shame of the Iraq war that seems to have no end. Now the Americans must stop, rest, and re-consider whether or not war is a suitable answer to anything. Europe, it seems, has learned this lesson. Have we?

I'm in a rather strange position here, Prof. James J. Sheehan writes a very sound and compelling argurment regarding post WWII Europe and it turning to political, military and economic unification. The reasons he sights are sound: the blood spilled over 30 years (1915 to 1945)...the loss of treasury...corrupted politics...and an exhusted people, who have had enough. He uses good writing and sound argurments to make his case and support his conclusion that we are at the dawn of a new contiental Europe. The problem is I disagree and fall back on modern European history from ther 11th. Century on and on the main character not part of this transformation namely Russia. This is though not the place to debate Prof. Sheehan, he has put out a good read on this topic and I would high recommed it to all who have a political, economic or military interest in todays Europe.

This is an important book that only earns four stars due to the many questions left unsaid and unanswered. Sheehan chronicles the transformation of Europe from a collection of military garrison states geared for war as necessary to civilian states that do not look to war or violence of any kind to resolve problems. The historical treatise is done well if lightly with many generalizations in about 170 pages. The remainder of the 227 pages is discussion that is well worth reading. The author traces the rise of conscription armies required to meet very real threats from neighbors and how pacifism was marginalized as an alternative before World War I. The reality of WWI shocked everyone, and the states that moved toward providing social benefits to their populations rather than confronting aggression militarily between the wars were forced to rely on the Soviet Union and the US to regain their sovereign status. England fought Germany to the last Frenchman in WWI, and when that supply ran out was saved by American intervention. Having learned nothing when World War II rolled around, England again attempted to fight Germany to the last Frenchman, but the French only lasted four weeks. The Soviets became unexpected allies when attacked by Germany, but even then the US had to be brought in to save Western Europe from Germany (and communism.) I guess it's nice to be needed. Then the malaise set in. Living comfortably under an American military security blanket, Europe was free to develop its economy and social programs while military expenditures remained static. Heroism disappeared as an admirable trait, and the nations transformed themselves to boring, stable, civilian states. Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989-1991, the neighboring enemy disappeared and Europe became even more complacent. The author goes into the various attempts to form an effective European Force to handle immediate crises, but as Kosovo showed, their efforts were less than successful. The Dutch contingent of soldiers sent to maintain order proved to be unable to defend those refugees in their charge, and indeed, even to defend themselves. The softness of the societies was further shown by the minimal revolutionary fervor developed after 1968 that dissipated fairly readily and without excessive violence. As a result the author argues that Europe will never become a superpower player although it possesses enormous economic power and a high standard of living. Even more than the US, Europe is a continent in decline, ripe to be conquered by a virile, outside force able to commit itself to violence as a strategy and governed by principles of honor, brotherhood and warrior prowess. There are many fine analyses of this transformation, but the author leaves the question as to why this has come about for the reader to discover on his own. One is tempted to cite the loss of France's manhood in WWI and England's loss of its colonies (and base of grandeur), but the author does not go heavily into discussing this aspect. In addition, the long term success of this trend in providing security to Europe's citizens is clearly in doubt, and the author does not belabor the likelihood of that success. One is left to wonder if the US should pull out all its troops and airforce units from Europe and let Europe go it alone. After the US, what then? I believe from reading this book the answer from Europe would be, "Who cares? We'll handle things somehow." Maybe so, but Europe's history is to call in the American fire brigade to pull its chestnuts out of the fire. Nonetheless, the author came close to convincing me that pacifism is a realistic alternative to a military option and that the US should consider emulating Europe, particularly since we have oceans between us and likely enemies. Then my natural conservative skepticism took hold and brought me back to consider the risks. Still, there is much to learn and ponder here, and the author is to be commended. Buy & read this book, regardless of your political orientation.

Great synopsis of the change from military states in Europe to civilian ones!

I am not a history student but I found this book extremely interesting and not at all dry or difficult to read. I can't comment on the scholarship but the points are extremely well made and the book flows well.It charts the rise of the military in Europe through the first and second world wars to the civilian Europe we have now.-and hope will continue