ABSTRACT
Europe dominated the world in 1900 but two civil wars, World Wars Iand II, destroyed that hegemony. In 1945 Russia was the major mili-tary force but America dominated the world in the same vein as Europe in 1900. The USA, in 1945, was both an economic and military power. This combination made it possible for the American political leadership to begin dreaming of a new world order which would mirror American values. Russia and America were isolationist powers until 1945, the former by force of circumstances and the latter by choice.
