Contemporary social and political history

This book presents a social and political history of the contemporary world. Although intended for students of social sciences and humanities, it is very accessible to anyone interested in learning about and understanding the most relevant events in world history. The work strives to maintain a thematic balance among different regions of the planet, moving away from traditional Eurocentric views of world history. The bulk of the content covers the period from the end of the Second World War to the present day. Reading this volume takes us through the reconstruction of Europe, the African independence movements and anti-imperialist movements, and the rise of globalization and the world of neoliberal hegemony. It explains the transition from a bipolar to a multipolar world, from the Soviet-American rivalry to the emergence of China as a central power.