Echoes of Victory

The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II is being commemorated amidst a resurgence of global conflict and fascism, evidenced by the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and the escalating military threats against China. This current situation mirrors the conditions that led to WWII, including economic nationalism, protectionism, and great-power rivalry. The article argues that the Allied victory in 1945 was not a victory for democracy or human rights, but a realignment of imperialist powers. The US emerged as the dominant world power, initiating a new era of neo-colonialism. The rise of fascism is attributed to the crisis of capitalism and the failure of social democracy and Stalinism to offer viable alternatives. Furthermore, the author critiques the historical narrative that demonizes Germany as the sole instigator of the war, downplaying the roles of other powers in escalating the conflict. It emphasizes the role of capitalism in generating war. The article connects contemporary political developments to the interwar period, warning that the same conditions that fostered fascism in the 1930s are re-emerging today, posing a grave threat to humanity. The current trajectory towards war necessitates a rejection of nationalism and a renewed commitment to international socialist revolution, as only the global working class can prevent a descent into barbarism. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/08/fsgy-m08.html