Answer :
Final answer:
The rise of dictators and increase in aggressive foreign policy in the 20th century is a significant historical fact. It involved the shift from promised democracies post-WWI to totalitarian regimes, and the unchecked aggression that characterized pre-WWII tensions. Post-Cold War, the world saw economic growth and strengthened democratic institutions.
Explanation:
The question concerns the rise of dictators and the corresponding increase in aggressive foreign policy during the early 20th century, touching upon the geopolitical dynamics post-World War I and leading into World War II. Following the Great War, a promise of democracy seemed possible, as envisioned by President Wilson.
However, economic and social turmoil led to the rise of totalitarian regimes. It is false that President George W. Bush was a proponent of liberal internationalism; his foreign policy leaned towards neoconservatism, which is also false to describe as isolationist. Neoconservatism typically supports a proactive foreign policy.
The end of the Cold War represented a pivotal shift, leading to economic growth and democratic institutions, as opposed to solely economic or protectionist policies. Aggressive dictators saw territorial expansion as critical for their national interests, utilizing it to consolidate power and distract from domestic issues. This resulted in a pattern of unchecked aggressive acts, with Western democracies sometimes supporting less democratic regimes during the Cold War to counter the spread of communism, as seen in the support of some military dictatorships.
Therefore, the connection between the ascent of dictatorial power and the subsequent aggressive policies is evident and significant in shaping 20th-century history.
