Mission, Empire, and Labour: William Pettigrew and the Recruitment of the 22nd Manipur Labour Corps in World War I

Through overall developments and movements, migration has spread throughout the world, causing concurrence and amalgamation of heterogeneous and culturally different societies. Present day societies are culturally even more diverse: individuals live in numerous cultures, speak in various languages, and have different identities. Despite the fact that the movement of Armenians previously existed in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, and Armenians have made numerous networks around the world, the considerable flow of relocation and the modern term of the Armenian Diaspora has developed because of the First World War after the Armenian Genocide in 1915, more explicitly, it comprises mostly individuals who survived the Armenian Genocide. The current research investigates the lives of the Armenian Diaspora in Germany, more specifically, the ones that have moved to Germany from Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Studying the lives of the Armenian ethnic group in a host society, it discusses the issues of living in heterogeneous societies and cultures, the role that religion plays in the migration and integration context, affiliation and attachment to various cultures, hybrid cultural, religious and social identities: how Armenians perceive themselves and different societies in Germany, what it feels like to be away from their homeland and live in various cultures simultaneously, to what cultures they have a sense of belonging, how they endeavour to retain their ethnic, religious, and cultural identities, what assists them in the integration process, and how they assess their lives in Germany. The research applies three methods: participant observation, semi-structured interview and Stefan Huber’s questionnaire “The Centrality of Religiosity Scale”. Religion plays a vital role in most of the interviewees’ lives, depending on various circumstances, such as a spiritual nourishment, a psychological support, closeness to one’s ethnicity or ethnic group, access to the host society, etc. According to the current research results, the Armenian interviewees in Germany perceive religion as an inseparable part of their culture, since their religious, ethnic, and cultural identities are intertwined and regarded as an inseparable unit: religious identity – Christian, ethnic identity – Armenian, cultural identity – customs and traditions. Christianity is perceived and practiced by the Armenian interviewees as a ‘cultural religion’ for the following reasons. They consider themselves to be Christians, but are not actively engaged in religious rituals or prayers. Christianity played an important role in the history of Armenians since it helped them preserve their ethnic identity and culture throughout history. Christianity has become an inseparable part of their culture since many Armenian customs and traditions are tightly connected to it and play an important role in their ethnic, national, cultural and religious identities. Interestingly enough, even those, who consider themselves to be atheists, conceive Christianity as an indispensable part of the Armenian culture and identity.

This article examines how contemporary Taiwanese fashion designers express cultural identity within the unique historical and social contexts of Taiwan. Shaped by Indigenous, Han Chinese, Japanese, and Western influences, Taiwan’s cultural identity is multifaceted. Designers navigate personal and collective identities, with personal identity shaped by individual experiences and global exposure, while collective identities reflect broader cultural narratives and historical transitions. In order to explore how cultural identity is reflected in Taiwanese fashion, this study combines historical research, discourse analysis, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews with Taiwanese fashion professionals. Through these methods, a thematic analysis identifies four key categories of cultural expression: “Narratives Through Aesthetics,” “Craft and Artistic Collaborations,” “Cultural and Cross-Industry Partnerships,” and “Highlighting Sustainability.” The findings reveal how designers negotiate cultural identity in their work, positioning Taiwanese fashion within an evolving global landscape. By analyzing these dynamics, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of fashion as a vehicle for cultural expression and identity formation, offering a framework for further research on Taiwanese fashion and its role in the global context.

Writing Africa into the World and Writing the World from Africa:

Exploring the reasons why the Second World War broke out in September 1939 and why a European conflict developed into a war that spanned the globe, The Origins of the Second World War argues that this was not just ‘Hitler’s War’ but one that had its roots and origins in the decline of the old empires of Britain and France and the rise of ambitious new powers in Germany, Italy and Japan who wanted large empires of their own. This fourth edition has been revised throughout, covering the origins of the war from its background in the First World War to its expansion to embrace the Soviet Union, Japan and the United States by the end of 1941. Creating a comprehensive and analytical narrative while remaining a succinct overview of the subject, this book takes a thematic approach to the complex range of events that culminated in global warfare, discussing factors such as economic rivalry, rearmament and domestic politics and emphasising that any explanation of the outbreak of hostilities must be global in scope. Containing updated references and primary source documents alongside a glossary, a chronology of key events and a Who’s Who of important figures, this book is an invaluable introduction for any student of this fascinating period.

Now in its fifth edition, The Origins of the Second World War explores the reasons why the Second World War broke out in September 1939 and why a European conflict developed into a war that spanned the globe. This book argues that the global conflict was not just ‘Hitler’s War’ but one that had its roots and origins in the decline of the old empires of Britain and France and the rise of ambitious new powers in Germany, Italy and Japan who wanted large empires of their own. Richard Overy covers the origins of the war from its background in the First World War to its expansion to embrace the Soviet Union, Japan and the United States by the end of 1941. Creating a comprehensive and analytical narrative while remaining a succinct overview of the subject, this book takes a thematic approach to the complex range of events that culminated in global warfare, discussing factors such as economic rivalry, rearmament and domestic politics and emphasizing that any explanation of the outbreak of hostilities must be global in scope. This new edition includes more discussion of the role of empire and the imperial background to the war. Containing several new primary source documents alongside a glossary, a chronology of key events and a who’s who of important figures, this book is an invaluable introduction for any student of this fascinating period in history.

Teesid: Sõjakäsitlus tavateadvuses on paljukihiline: selles on nii isikliku/perekondliku kogemuse elemente kui ka kollektiivsete ajalookujutluste ühtlustavaid mõjusid. Esimene maailmasõda on meist ajas sellisel kaugusel, kus see on muundunud sündmuse esialgsest kommunikatiivse mälu vormis meenutamisest institutsionaliseeritud kultuurimälu osaks. 2014. aastal viidi kahekümnes Euroopa riigis läbi üliõpilaste küsitlus, selgitamaks tänapäeva noorte kollektiivseid kujutlusi Esimesest maailmasõjast. Artiklis kirjeldame Eesti noorte Esimese maailmasõjaga seotud arusaamu ja võrdleme neid teistes Euroopa riikides elavate noorte arusaamadega. Eraldi analüüsime vastuseid küsimusele „Mida saame õppida Esimese maailmasõja kogemusest?“. Lay understanding of war is multi-layered containing elements of personal or family experience as well as the unifying effects of collective memory (representations). The First World War is at such a distance from us that a change in the form of collective historical representation has taken place, from the initial commemoration of the event in the form of communicative memory to part of institutionalised cultural memory (Assmann 2008). According to today’s view, the First World War is second most important global historical event (Liu et al. 2005). In 2014, one hundred years after the beginning of the First World War, a survey of students was conducted in twenty European countries (within the framework of COST Action IS1205 Social Psychological Dynamics of Historical Representations in the Enlarged European Union) to investigate the commonalities and differences in social representations of the War among young Europeans. Young people were asked about their factual knowledge of the War, their family war experiences, feelings related to the War, and more general interpretations of the war such as what they considered the main causes of the War to be, who was attributed the responsibility for the outbreak of the War, how they evaluate the violence of the different parties, how they perceive the distribution of the roles of aggressor and victim, etc. Background characteristics included cultural and national identity, anti-war attitudes, etc. In Estonia, the survey was conducted in both Estonian and Russian. In the article, we describe the main results of these studies. Previous analysis found that Europeans share a common representation of the causes of the First World War, although young people in Western and Eastern European countries have different interpretative frameworks when thinking about this war (Bouchat et al. 2019a; Pawliczek 2014). While in Western Europe it is the tragic Great War, with a definite beginning and end, in Eastern Europe there is not such a clear collective perception. The First World War led to various other wars in these countries, as a result of which empires fell apart and many small countries, including Estonia, gained independence, paradoxically a positive consequence of the War for these nations. Awareness of family or national war victimhood is linked to anti-war attitudes today; for more pacifist young people the First World War is associated with real and emotional human suffering, while less pacifist young people think more abstractly about the geopolitical results of the War (Bouchat et al. 2019b). Young people growing up in peacetime Europe after the Second World War have generally been free from militaristic propaganda. There has been a purposeful attempt to shape young people’s approach to history in schools, the trend of which in most European countries has been to reconcile former enemies (Rosoux et al. 2019). The survey discussed in the article showed considerable commonality and consensus in the representation of the First World War. The descendants of the former hostile parties evaluate this war in the same way, can reproduce the same facts, events, and characters, and interpret the causes and consequences of the war similarly. Looking back, young people primarily see the futility of War and the unnecessary human suffering. Thus, pacifism as one of the cultural consequences of the War is a viable common sense way of thinking today. Analysing Estonian war literature, Jaan Undusk (2016) has come to the conclusion that ‘passive pacifism’ and indifference to war are characteristic of Estonians. Unlike the communicative memory of the Second World War, where former intergroup enmity is still alive at times, in the collective cultural memory of the First World War, emotionality has faded and transformed; for example former war excitement or rage has become sadness and grief. Instead of enmity between countries and peoples, one sees rather a social conflict between greedy and reckless elites and ordinary people sacrificed for their interests (Bouchat et al. 2019a). One hundred years later, the First World War appears to the youth of Europe as a warning, a negative symbol that is contrasted with united Europe as a peace project (Bouchat et al. 2023). In this way, history has been transformed into a shared symbolic resource, war in collective memory acting as a supporter of international peace. Young people have developed a homogeneous anti-war-oriented collective image of the First World War. Estonian youth’s factual knowledge of the First World War was surprisingly good, considering the marginality of this war from the point of view of Estonian identity or current inter-group relations: Estonians do not feel like victims or war criminals, they do not feel the desire for revenge, there is no need to forgive anyone or demand an apology from anyone. We separately analysed Estonian young people’s answers to the question "What can we learn from the experience of the First World War?" Generalising the answers, we can conclude that most young people took a progressive, linear view of history, according to which war is an anomaly, a disease of society that can and should be prevented. The lessons of the First World War were primarily perceived as ways of preventing future conflict and avoiding the mistakes made in the past, both at the level of individuals, social groups (the elite), and society as a whole. A stable and peaceful world was perceived as the norm.

This authoritative biographical guide to warfare in the twentieth century is at once fascinating reading and an invaluable work of reference for anyone interested in modern military history. As well as the First and Second World Wars, this Who's Who takes in key figures from conflicts in Vietnam, Korea and others. Those whose lives and careers are covered here include not only major military leaders, but also politicians, inventors and other key public figures central to the course of twentieth-century military history. From Che Guevara to Mao Zhedong, from Albert Speer to Norman Schwarzkopf, and from Josef Stalin to Charles de Gaulle - this volume's breadth of coverage makes it a unique and indispensable guide to an important and absorbing element of modern history.

Education is considered as most powerful means in shaping the nationality and identity of Indian youth, serving as a way of integrating cultural diversity, fostering national consciousness, and creating a sense of unity among the population. With the evolution of various educational policies and the increasing use of technology, Indian education has extended beyond academic learning, providing youth with opportunities for global exposure while reinforcing their national and cultural identities. This Study explores how education contributes to shaping the nationality and identity of Indian youth by examining cultural influences, policy frameworks, and digital advancements. The major purpose of this study is to investigate the role of education in shaping the nationality and identity of Indian youth in the context of globalization and the digital age. This research will also explore how digital platforms and global exposure influence the identity formation process, and what measures can be taken to ensure that education continues to serve as a vital tool for national development. By analysing relevant literature, this study emphasizes the critical role of education in promoting a sense of national unity, pride, and belongingness among the youth of India, thereby addressing both local and global demands.

World War I was a global conflict produced blood filled trenches, battlefields of dead, and mangled soldiers. Some may feel that this war has little to do with the field of marketing. However, marketing played a key role in the war. Despite the important role of marketing in the war, scholars have not fully explored the impact of promotion and propaganda on the war effort. Marketing efforts related to World War I may not have had the impact as the millions of soldiers who took active part in the conflict. It did however play an important role in the filling the ranks of the armed forces of the nations involved in the war. The United States, and other nations, during the war developed increasingly more sophisticated marketing, public relations, and propaganda campaigns in order to culturally mobilize the home front, and to recruit additional fresh troops into the conflict in those nations which did not engage in conscription. Efforts to market World War I helped develop marketing tactics used today to brand and publicize products and services. A key figure in the efforts to market World War I to the American public was George Creel. Creel was the head of the Committee on Public Information. Creel was a successful promoter and champion of many of the reform causes of the early part of the 20th Century. Creel’s marketing efforts impact on America’s role in World War I was indeed significant. The topic of this paper is the impact of World War I on the development of marketing related tools and techniques. Many of the techniques and tools developed during the Great War are still used today to sell products, in the United States and in the rest of the world presently. Much of this paper will focus on the efforts of George Creel and the Committee on Public Information efforts to promote World War I, and how this organization impacted the development of marketing during its short existence.

This paper focuses on the mutual relationship between cultural identity and the built environment. The questions paused by this paper are: what aspects of cultural identity change and how do they impact architecture and the built environment? And, in return, what aspects of architecture and the built environment change and how do they impact cultural identity? The paper aims at understanding the current struggle to be modern and to return to the roots at the same time in different parts of the world. It focuses on Kuwait as a case study of this struggle. It starts by analyzing the cultural transformation that occurred in Kuwait during the 20th century under influences of economic and global changes, and then examines recent attempts at the beginning of the 21st century to reflect a cultural identity in architecture. The paper utilizes the method of analysis suggested by Zavalloni to understand the identity creation, formation, and transformation. This method provides a theoretical understanding of identity as a system. Several research studies were conducted by the author to understand the extent and the meaning of the phenomenon of expressing cultural identity in contemporary Kuwaiti architecture by utilizing elements from traditional Kuwaiti architecture. The paper concludes that cultural identity is a meaning making process, multiple identities exist at the same time and transforms from one state to another adjusting to external pressures and circumstances. The paper recommends that when searching for cultural identity, one should expect to find several overlapping identities. In sum, a more open-ended approach is required when studying cultural identities that stresses the hybrid and hyper nature of culture identity; a hyper-identity.

Located about 1500 miles northeast of the Philippines and 1500 miles southwest of Japan, the Mariana Islands lie astride the north equatorial trade-wind that crosses from the Americas to East Asia. It’s the Islands’ location that led to contact between the Spanish and the indigenous Chamorro people in 1521. Their initial contact was followed by more than a century of intermittent trade and cultural interaction, culminating in a Jesuit-inspired colonization by the late seventeenth century. As a result of their homeland’s geostrategic location, the Chamorros became the first Pacific Island people to experience sustained Western contact, especially Christian conversion and European colonization. The Spanish-Chamorro interaction during this continuum offers a unique example of early modern colonialism in the Asia-Pacific region, since it reflects the cross-cultural encounter of imperial objectives and indigenous agency that generated an ethnogenesis and recreated the Chamorro society, culture, and identity.

The relationship between cultural identity and the performing arts is becoming increasingly relevant in the modern global world. The academic paper focuses on the role of cultural identity, its search and transformation, based on archetypes, reflection and interpretation in forming the identity of performers. Archetypes, which are universal symbols and images, influence the creative process of performers. They can be manifested in musical compositions, choreography, acting, and other art forms. Performers' reflections on their cultural heritage and identity help them enrich their performances and express themselves. The present academic paper will help reveal essential aspects of the interaction between cultural identity and the performing arts, and it will also consider practical examples from the world of art, particularly music. The object of the research is the specificity of the cultural identity of certain countries (Ukraine, the USA, Brazil, India, and China) and the possibilities of the performing arts to use cultural specificity/identity in the modern world. The principles of tolerance, awareness of cultural relativism and tolerance, cultural variety, and the aim to preserve cultural heritage by popularising these notions served as the methodological basis for writing the academic paper. In order to accomplish the research tasks, the works of the following scholars and their methodological approaches were used, namely: the works of C. Jung, T. Adorno, the theories of F. Clackson and F. Strodtbeck, and the development of the study of cultural features of countries by G. Hofstede. In the context of cultural globalisation, the issue of cultural identity is gaining particular importance. Musical art is appropriate for demonstrating both timeless and supranational aspects of existence, and vice versa – for shaping and cultivating cultural differences, using established archetypal images and performing reflections and interpretations of the author's intent, interpreted by the personal background and historical and cultural context.

American Writers and the Approach of World War II, 1935–1941: A Literary HistoryShell Shock, Memory, and the Novel in the Wake of World War I

Lord Inverchapel was a key figure in British foreign policy and diplomacy during Great Britain's twilight as a great power. His early diplomatic service postings included Berlin, Washington, and the Middle East, most notably as ambassador to Iraq. He served in China and the Soviet Union during the Second World War and as ambassador to the US after the war. He played a significant role in the founding of NATO and the implementation of the Marshall Plan. This study is based on a close examination of the huge Inverchapel archive, including a vast collection of his private papers. Lord Inverchapel was a key figure in British foreign policy and diplomacy during Great Britain's twilight as a great power. His early diplomatic service postings included Berlin, Washington, and the Middle East, most notably as ambassador to Iraq. He served in China and the Soviet Union during the Second World War and as ambassador to the US after the war. He played a significant role in the founding of NATO and the implementation of the Marshall Plan. This study is based on a close examination of the huge Inverchapel archive, including a vast collection of his private papers.

Lord Inverchapel was a key figure in British foreign policy and diplomacy during Great Britain's twilight as a great power. His early diplomatic service postings included Berlin, Washington, and the Middle East, most notably as ambassador to Iraq. He served in China and the Soviet Union during the Second World War and as ambassador to the US after the war. He played a significant role in the founding of NATO and the implementation of the Marshall Plan. This study is based on a close examination of the huge Inverchapel archive, including a vast collection of his private papers. Lord Inverchapel was a key figure in British foreign policy and diplomacy during Great Britain's twilight as a great power. His early diplomatic service postings included Berlin, Washington, and the Middle East, most notably as ambassador to Iraq. He served in China and the Soviet Union during the Second World War and as ambassador to the US after the war. He played a significant role in the founding of NATO and the implementation of the Marshall Plan. This study is based on a close examination of the huge Inverchapel archive, including a vast collection of his private papers.