World War II and Contemporary Geopolitics: Historical Memory and Global Order

GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional, and global groupings and agreements involving India.

Context: The September 2026 U.S.–China summit revived a shared World War II narrative, even as Washington and Beijing continue to compete over technology, Taiwan, regional influence and strategic resources. The episode highlights how historical memory can shape contemporary geopolitics.

World War II and the Post-War Order

• Shared Victory Narrative: During the September 2026 state visit, the U.S. and China recalled that they had fought side by side as Allies during World War II.
• Post-War Institutional Order: The end of World War II produced institutions and arrangements that shaped the subsequent international political and security order.
• Historical Memory as Diplomacy: References to wartime cooperation can be used to construct a narrative of shared legitimacy and common interests, even between contemporary strategic competitors.

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Yalta System and Russian Strategic Narrative

• Yalta Conference: The 1945 Yalta Conference brought together Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin to discuss the post-war settlement and European security.
• Sphere of Influence: The post-war settlement contributed to the emergence of distinct Western and Soviet spheres of influence in Europe, although the simplistic description of Yalta as a formal division of Europe into two fixed zones is misleading.
• Russian Narrative: Contemporary Russian strategic discourse has frequently invoked the idea of a legitimate Russian role in European security, drawing upon its historical contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany.
• Historical Legitimacy: The broader lesson is that states can use their World War II contribution to construct claims about their contemporary role in the international order.

San Francisco System and East Asia

• San Francisco Peace Treaty: The 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty formally ended the state of war between Japan and many Allied powers and became an important foundation of the post-war security architecture in East Asia.
• U.S.–Japan Alliance: The post-war settlement was accompanied by a long-term U.S.–Japan security relationship, making Japan a central component of the U.S. regional order.
• Chinese Perspective: Beijing views the existing U.S.-centred alliance network in the Indo-Pacific as an important element of the regional strategic balance and seeks greater Chinese influence in the regional order.

China’s Changing World War II Narrative

• Republic of China: During most of World War II, the internationally recognised Chinese government was the Republic of China (ROC) under Chiang Kai-shek; the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was established only in 1949.
• Historical Distinction: Therefore, the statement that the present-day PRC fought alongside the U.S. in World War II requires historical qualification.
• Narrative Transformation: Scholarship on Chinese historical memory has highlighted changes in how the Communist Party has represented World War II—from relatively limited emphasis during the Mao era, to stronger emphasis on national victimhood, and subsequently on China’s victory and contribution to defeating fascism.
• Strategic Purpose: The contemporary narrative connects China’s wartime contribution with its claim to a greater role in shaping the Asian and global order.

Japan and the Politics of Historical Memory

• From Enemy to Ally: Japan moved from being an Axis power during World War II to becoming a key U.S. security partner in the post-war Indo-Pacific.
• Defence Normalisation: Japan’s contemporary debate over strengthening defence capabilities takes place against the background of its post-war pacifist framework and changing regional security environment.
• Historical Narratives: Competing interpretations of Japan’s wartime history continue to influence relations among China, Japan, South Korea and other regional actors.
• Enemy State Clauses: The UN Charter contains references to former enemy states in Articles 53, 77 and 107. These provisions are widely regarded as obsolete and the General Assembly declared the clauses obsolete in 1995, but they have not formally been deleted from the Charter.

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India and the World War II Legacy

• Massive Military Contribution: India contributed around 2.5 million soldiers to the Allied war effort, making the Indian Army the largest volunteer army raised during World War II. Indian troops fought across theatres ranging from North Africa and Europe to Southeast Asia.
• Burma Theatre: Indian forces played a major role in campaigns against Imperial Japan in Burma, alongside Allied forces.
• Historical Recognition: India’s contribution provides an important basis for understanding its role in the formation of the post-1945 international order.
• Diplomatic Relevance: Historical memory can therefore be an instrument of diplomacy, allowing India to emphasise its long-standing contribution to global security and multilateralism.

Implications for India

• Changing Asian Order: A recalibration in U.S.–China relations could influence the strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific.
• Strategic Autonomy: India needs to maintain independent decision-making while developing partnerships with multiple major powers.
• Historical Diplomacy: India can use its World War II contribution to strengthen its narrative of being a long-standing stakeholder in global governance.
• Indo-Pacific Balance: India’s engagement with the U.S., Japan, Australia, Europe and other partners remains relevant alongside its broader diplomatic engagement with China and other powers.

Way Forward

• Use History Carefully: Historical memory should support diplomatic understanding rather than historical confrontation.
• Preserve Strategic Autonomy: India should avoid excessive dependence on any single major power.
• Strengthen Regional Partnerships: Deepen cooperation on maritime security, connectivity, technology and supply-chain resilience.
• Build Indigenous Capabilities: Strengthen domestic capacity in defence, critical technologies and strategic industries.
• Promote Rules-Based Order: Support institutions and mechanisms that reduce the possibility of miscalculation and conflict.

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Conclusion

The U.S.–China relationship demonstrates that history is not merely a record of the past; it can become an instrument of contemporary statecraft. For India, understanding these competing historical narratives is essential to navigating an evolving Asian and global order.

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