The twentieth century: its delimitation and its meaning

Abstract

The 20th century is problematic, given the lack of unanimity regarding its delimitation. A very suggestive thesis on this issue comes from the British historian Eric Hobsbawm, who conceives the 20th century as a short century, starting with the World War First and ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and, thus, with the end of Cold War. This delimitation is unsatisfactory. According with the author, a more fecund delimitation and, therefore, interpretation of the 20th century, must start questioning the eurocentric interpretations of history.

Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 108, 2006: 251-272