New Thinkers Urge Society to Downplay World War II, Raising Serious Risks
The column cautions that a growing group of scholars is urging the public to set aside World War II lessons, a move the author deems perilous.
The article warns that a budding “cottage industry” of intellectuals is attempting to diminish the importance of World War II for today’s policy debates. It points to Alec Ryrie’s 2025 book, which frames the post-war liberal order as a reaction to Hitler, and R. R. Reno’s essay in First Things that promotes a similar view. The author argues that these narratives overlook how the war shaped fundamental institutions, such as modern asylum law, which originated in that era.
By featuring a 1945 image of the U.S. Third Army capturing Cologne, the piece highlights the vivid memory of the conflict. The writer contends that discarding these lessons endangers future decision-making. The commentary appears in one outlet alongside links to other opinion pieces.
Why it matters
Ignoring WWII lessons could distort policy and undermine institutions built after the war.
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