In the 1930s one was aware of two great evils - mass

"In the 1930s, one was aware of two great evils—mass unemployment and the threat of war." These words, spoken by the British economist James Meade, reflect the devastation and uncertainty that plagued much of the world during this tumultuous time. The 1930s were a period of economic despair for millions, particularly in the wake of the Great Depression, where nations were crippled by unemployment and poverty. Alongside this economic calamity loomed the dark specter of war, which would soon engulf the world in the second world war. Meade's words capture the sense of dread that hung over this era, as nations struggled to find a way out of these twin threats—unemployment and war—that threatened to dismantle the very fabric of society.

O children of the future, let us learn from the sufferings of the past. The Great Depression, with its wide-reaching effects, was a time when societies were tested to their core. Mass unemployment was not just an economic issue, but a social crisis, leading to widespread despair and a loss of hope for many. Families were torn apart as workers found themselves without means to support their loved ones. The resulting poverty pushed people to the brink of survival, creating a world of deep inequality and strife. Yet, even as the people struggled with the dire consequences of economic collapse, another, more terrifying force was emerging: the threat of war. The scars of the First World War were still fresh, and the forces of fascism and totalitarianism were growing stronger, threatening to plunge the world into chaos once again.

Consider, O children, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime in Germany. In the aftermath of the Great War, Germany was crippled by reparations, and its people were faced with poverty and unemployment that felt insurmountable. It was in this environment of despair that Hitler rose to power, offering hope through promises of reviving the economy, rebuilding the nation, and restoring its former glory. But his solution came at a great cost—his rise to power was fueled by nationalism, hatred, and a call for war to reclaim lost territories. The threat of war began to overshadow the economic recovery that many had hoped for. The 1930s were thus a time of great tension, where economic hardship and the shadow of war were inextricably linked, pulling the world ever closer to conflict.

In other parts of the world, the rise of fascist and communist regimes, driven by the promise of solutions to economic hardship, led to further instability. In Italy, Mussolini's fascism took hold, offering an authoritarian solution to the chaos of the times. In Japan, the militaristic government sought to expand its territory, fueled by the desire for resources and the promise of national glory. In Russia, the Soviet Union under Stalin sought to build a new economic order, but at the cost of immense suffering and the loss of millions of lives. The tension between these competing ideologies created a world where the fear of war loomed large, casting a shadow over every economic policy and every political movement.

Meade’s insight points us to a crucial truth, O children: when society is fractured by poverty and despair, when hope is in short supply and the future appears bleak, the threat of war becomes all the more imminent. The 1930s showed us that economic instability is not just a matter of financial loss—it is a matter of human suffering, of shattered lives, and of the erosion of civility. When people cannot feed their families, when nations cannot provide for their citizens, the desire for power, control, and violence grows. And in such conditions, war becomes a means of escape, a way for the powerful to channel the frustration and anger of the masses.

The lesson, O children, is that we must never take peace and stability for granted. The threat of war and the scourge of unemployment are often intertwined, and when one festers, the other is never far behind. Meade’s warning is a call to action: economic justice and social well-being must be at the heart of every society, for when the basic needs of the people are unmet, when inequality and poverty run rampant, the seeds of conflict are sown. As you move through life, strive not only for your own prosperity, but for the well-being of all people. Work to create systems that offer dignity and security to everyone, so that the forces of hate and violence can never take root.

Let the story of the 1930s serve as a timeless reminder, O children, that the greatest challenge facing any society is not just the avoidance of war, but the creation of a society where all people can live with dignity, hope, and opportunity. Unemployment and war are not inevitable—they are the products of failure, of systems that prioritize greed and power over the common good. As you face the challenges of your time, may you work toward building a world where prosperity is shared, where justice prevails, and where the threat of war is nothing but a distant memory, never to return again.