Answer:

Introduction

The Industrial Revolution (19th-20th CE) is the process of change from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing largely driven by steam power and mechanization. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (21st CE) is characterized by advanced digital technology, artificial intelligence, and interconnectedness, transforming various sectors of society. It can blur the boundaries between the physical, digital, and biological worlds.

Body

Industrial revolution between the end of 19th century and 20th century played a big part in making WWI a total war by

• Mass Production: The industrialized economies could mass-produce weapons, ammunition, and other war materials, fuelling a war of unprecedented scale. For example, the British Empire produced around 250,000 artillery pieces and 170 million rounds of ammunition.
• Advanced Weaponry: Industrialization led to the development of more advanced and destructive weaponry, such as machine guns, submarines, and chemical weapons, which intensified the war’s devastation.
• Railways: Rail networks, a product of industrialization, enabled rapid movement of troops and supplies, making it possible to wage war on multiple fronts simultaneously. The Schlieffen Plan relied heavily on German railways for its execution.
• Naval Innovations: Industrial technologies enabled improvements in naval warfare, including faster, iron-clad warships and devastatingly effective torpedoes. The naval blockade by the British significantly impacted Germany’s war efforts.
• War Economy: Industrialization allowed for the transformation of entire economies for war purposes. Industries not directly related to war, such as textiles or food production, were repurposed to support the war effort.
• Population Boom: Industrialization contributed to population growth through better living conditions and medical advancements, providing larger pools of military-age men to conscript, which increased the scale of the war.
• Propaganda: The industrialized mass media was used effectively to propagate state messages, maintaining morale at home and demonizing the enemy to facilitate a total war environment.

Strategies that could prevent similar escalations in global conflicts in the 21st century given the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution

• International Norms for Technology Use: The international consensus against the malicious use of information and communication technologies, as demonstrated by the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on cyber norms, is a step in this direction.
• Online Conflict Mediation: The PeaceTech Lab, founded by the United States Institute of Peace, uses technology, media, and data to mitigate conflicts globally.
• Peaceful Applications of AI: The predictive modeling work of the Vienna-based Centre for the Study of Civil War, which uses AI to predict the location of future conflicts, is one instance of this application.
• Digital Equity: The “One Laptop per Child” initiative is an example of a non-profit initiative established with the goal of transforming education for children around the world. Thus, bridging the digital divide and lessen technological inequality.
• Accountability for Tech Companies: Germany’s NetzDG law, which fines social media platforms failing to remove hate speech promptly, is a legislative step holding tech companies accountable.
• UN Digital Peacekeeping: The United Nations’ use of unmanned surveillance drones in peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a precedent for extending its operations into digital realms.
• Digital Human Rights: France’s “digital republic” bill, which enshrines various digital rights like net neutrality and data portability, is an example of legislating for the protection of digital human rights.

Conclusion

Thus, given the impact of the industrialization of the late 19th and early 20th centuries on the scale, strategies, and effects of WWI, It is needed to leverage the positive potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and effectively mitigating its challenges, by adopting these strategies for preventing escalations in global conflicts in the 21st century.

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