when was World War II?

[Jim Giordano]

I suppose it depends in part on how many countries one thinks must be 
involved before we call it a "World War."


At 06:33 AM 4/10/2006, you wrote:
>For an essay that questions/criticizes the way the concept of "wartime"
>has been used in works on rights and war in the 20th C, I would be
>interested in any curious examples of the ways World War II is periodized.
>The answer(s) to the question "when was World War II?" may seem
>obvious (1941-45 for the US would be one answer, 1939-45 for Europe
>would be another, but there are arguments against these beginning points).
>Scholars who argue that World War II had an impact on rights seem to be
>all over the map regarding what they identify as the "wartime" that impacted
>rights. There is slipperyness not only in when the war-related impact
>began (Pearl Harbor?  1940?), but also about end points, with much
>slipping into the early and even middle years of the Cold War, but all
>wrapped up in one "war" era.  Right now I'm just trying to come up with
>examples of the ways folks who write about rights and World War II
>identify the starting and ending points of World War II.  And I
>wonder whether there are disciplinary differences between history,
>poli sci & law.  Off-list replies would be great.  Many thanks,
>Mary Dudziak
>mdudziak at law.usc.edu
>mdudziak at law.harvard.edu
>(HLS email is best to use through 6/06)
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