Out of Chaos: How the Nation State Emerged from the Ruins of World War II

A provocative history of how nation states arose out of the ashes of World War II, showing how catastrophe, compromise, and contested visions forged the fragile order we still live in today.

“A magnificent history . . . Necessary reading for all those who want to understand how the modern world came into being.” —O. A. Westad, author of The Global Cold War

Nation states—self-contained territories with their own economy, population, and culture—dominate today’s world. Nationalists claim the mo...