Introduction
It all started on 1st September 1939 when Germany attacked Poland without warning and that was when the world entered into war with itself. For a period which lasted for 6 years, manhood was under the threat of extinction since men slaughtered fellow men like goats and destruction of property took centre stage. World War 2 began in 1939 and ended in the year 1945.
The United States of America dropped two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing more 120000 in the two islands leaving thousands of the populace suffering from the radiation effects. World War II ended (1945) and the world swore never to go to war with itself ever again. The impact of this war was felt everywhere in the world but this study will concentrate on the impacts the war had on Asia (Anon “World War 2 in the pacific”1).
Decolonization of most of the East Asian Countries
With the main colonial powers coming from Europe, the 2nd world war had been left weak and unable to manage their colonies due to the scarcity of resources. They were preoccupied with own problems and the rise of anti- imperialist sentiments back at home lessened the process of decolonization (Neher 1).
Colonies were not ready to be colonized again after what they saw during the 2nd world war. Colonies which had helped their colonial masters during the war were granted independence after the war ended examples of the countries that regained their independence were the Philippines from the United States of America in 1946, India from Britain followed in 1947, Ceylon and Burma in 1948 among others (Linter 1).
Expansion of the Asian Economy
The period after the Second World War saw the emergence and expansion of the world economies. As a result of business liberalization, technology advancements, and industrial growth nations (such as China and India) have undertaken dynamic growth of manufactured goods thus narrowing the massive per capita income gap that separated the European nations and their Asian counterparts (Findlay & O’Rourke 13).
Countries such as Japan and China started rebuilding their economies so as to compete with the rest of the world. Evidence shows that after the 1945 bombing Japan has improved and at present they are the strongest economy after US and china (Barboza 1).
The use of Women as comfort during the War
Situated throughout Asia were the comfort women; this is recorded as the ugliest mass rape of women where the Japanese soldiers abducted women as young as eleven years old and imprisoned them in rape camps. It was estimated that these comfort women could serve as many as 50 soldiers a day.
Not only were they beaten and starved but as well as forced to procure abortions in case any of them got pregnant. The little fraction that survived endured physical injuries and emotional breakdowns throughout their lives (Anon “Japanese sex slavery before, during and after World War II.” 1).
Changing Sex Ratio on Marriages and Fertility
Following the devastating losses during the 2nd world war, the disproportionate death of young men resulted to drastic changes in sex ratios among the populations surviving the war. This resulted in lower rates of marriage and fertility and high rates of children born out of the wedlock. As a result of the war most women were now involved in work which their husbands used to be involved with in order to feed themselves.
Nuclear Weapons
With the Second World War countries in the Asia improved their war technologies and started arming themselves in readiness of any war in case it ever explodes (Neher 4). Countries began devising strategies on how to protect themselves. Of late we have had the missiles testing of North Korea and the suspicion of Iran developing atomic bombs all as a result of countries trying to guard their interest.
Use of Technology
The Second World War also brought about technology advancements. As the world swore never to fight again there was formation of the League of Nations whose main aim was to steer cooperation and peace among member states.
This was followed by the establishment of GATT (General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs) whose main aim was to ease trade among world countries by reducing trade barriers and tariffs. The exchange of goods and services was easier thus the faster transfer of technologies among different economies in Asia. These among others were the impacts of this war on Asia
Conclusion
The World War II had both its positive and negative repercussions though loss of human lives cannot be equated with any economic or technology empowerment. it is advisable to note that Asia also gained some benefits from the war example the economies expansion and technology advancements.
One thing should remain clear is that as the countries develop and compete with others never again should the world ever fight against itself. We should always find alternative ways of solving our problems other than fighting with fellow humans. Preach Peace.
Works Cited
Anon. Japanese sex slavery before, during and after World War II, 2009. Web.
Anon. World War 2 in the pacific, 2010. Web.
Barboza, David. China Passes Japan as Second-Largest Economy, 2010. Web.
Findlay Ronald and O’Rourke, Kevin. Power and Plenty: Trade, War and the World Economy in the Second Millennium, 2007. Web.
Linter, Bertil. How World War II Shaped Burma’s Future, 2005. Web.
Neher, Arlene. Southeast Asia during World War II. Web.