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Discussion
Thanks everyone who replied. I was just reading "The World After Gaza" by Pankaj Mishra, and this was one of the statements made -- actually, I think more like "one of the most important". It really struck me what a Global North mindset I have, and not realizing how important this process has been. Anyway, I'd say "No, but..." (I think development of computers was probably more important) But I think it's very high up there.
@evan
it was big, but man was that a busy century.
@evan I think that one of the three inventions of computers, space travel and nuclear weapons (all of which happened around 1950) will likely be what the 20th century is remembered for in the far future.
The politics of the century might still be notable to a future observer but less so than the technological progress.
@steveediger why did that keep you from voting?
@evan
I didn't feel that any choice would convey my thoughts on it. I do appreciate most of your surveys!
I didn't feel that any choice would convey my thoughts on it. I do appreciate most of your surveys!
@evan most important for decolonized countries
@evan vaccinations against disease? Maternal health improvements? World Wars 1 and 2? The cold war? The growth of communist China? The invention of modern computing? Nuclear power? SO MANY big things happened with arguably greater impacts.
@mikebabcock maybe give yourself a minute to consider the concept. Decolonization of India alone affects a billion people today.
@evan many of them wouldn't be alive to appreciate it at all were it not for maternal health initiatives.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9292773/
See also vaccination (which started in the 1800's to be fair):
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4078488/
But most importantly, decolonization of India is not "achieved" yet, as others pointed out: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/humanrights/2023/07/12/beyond-the-raj-how-british-colonialism-continues-to-impact-human-rights-in-india/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9292773/
See also vaccination (which started in the 1800's to be fair):
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4078488/
But most importantly, decolonization of India is not "achieved" yet, as others pointed out: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/humanrights/2023/07/12/beyond-the-raj-how-british-colonialism-continues-to-impact-human-rights-in-india/
@evan yes, but it hasn't entirely happened yet?
(Just my possibly uninformed hot take)
@evan I think there are still a lot of colonies. The power changed, in the 20th century, from the military one to the economic and political one, but few Occidental countries are still colonizing great part of the world, IMHO.
@evan
"Yes, but", it bleeds into so many other huge events, and it's so diffuse, geographically and chronologically, that it's pushing the definition of "event" to the limit.
"Global technological progress" is probably bigger than "decolonisation", but that's definitely a category not an event, even though it spans a similar timescale and geographical spread.
"Yes, but", it bleeds into so many other huge events, and it's so diffuse, geographically and chronologically, that it's pushing the definition of "event" to the limit.
"Global technological progress" is probably bigger than "decolonisation", but that's definitely a category not an event, even though it spans a similar timescale and geographical spread.
@evan
NB
NB
No, because a LOT of wild stuff happened in the 20th century (I personally am going with the moon landing, but opinions on importance may vary).
But it WAS important. It's on the list, for sure.
@evan I thought we were still decolonizing
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