The views of Europeans regarding WWI before and after the conflict differed significantly. In 1914, many intelligent Europeans and representatives of upper social classes were inclined to discuss WWI as a “virtuous pursuit” because of their specific beliefs and assumptions related to the war. One of the causes to make the European nations regard the war as something positive for them was their focus on extreme nationalism. The associated causes include accentuated patriotism and the orientation of each powerful European nation toward expanding its borders in the context of nationalistic ideas. Thus, WWI was perceived by the majority of Europeans as their chance to emphasize and prove the greatness of their nation. As a result, the war as a “virtuous pursuit” allowed these people to add value to their existence, and the struggle was viewed as a sacred and patriotic moment in their life.
It is important to compare and contrast the ideas of Europeans before and after the war with a focus on specific examples to illustrate the variety of people’s attitudes. According to Doregelès, in Paris, the beginning of the war was perceived as the call to arms to protect patriotic views, and people’s overall mood was optimistic. In London, as Russell noted it, people also believed in the effects of the war to support their nation’s power, and they seemed to “like destruction” caused by the war. In Russia, the same ideas to accentuate its power and focus on heroic actions were also shared. Thus, Europeans had similar views that the war would have positive outcomes, and their nations would be glorified. Furthermore, they viewed themselves as belonging to the mass powerful to make a change despite differences in their classes and ranks.
However, after WWI, the discourse changed along with people’s views on the problem. The attitude to the war turned to a negative one because of the suffering and destruction Europeans faced as a result of WWI. For example, the most intelligent people became aware of the fact that extreme nationalism led to more hatred against other nations and further devastation. It seems that national leaders did not realize that the war would last for years, leading to thousands of deaths and destroying the economies of states. Thus, France and Britain were in decline, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire ceased its existence. After the war, there was no place for optimism and heroic views because of the nations’ fight for preserving their borders and for independence instead of spreading their influence in the world.