- Destruction: The war caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, factories, homes and businesses. This required massive reconstruction efforts, and led to the creation of a new global economic order.
- Debt: Many countries that participated in the war incurred large debts, which had to be repaid in the postwar period. This led to austerity measures and economic hardship.
- Economic Growth: The war also stimulated economic growth in some sectors. For example, there was a boom in the production of weapons, aircraft, ships, and other war-related goods. This economic growth laid the foundation for the postwar economic expansion in many countries.
Political
- Decolonization: The war led to the decolonization of many European empires in Asia and Africa. This process led to the creation of many new nation-states, who played a significant role in the Cold War and the new global order.
- Creation of the United Nations: The United Nations was established in 1945 to prevent future wars and to promote peaceful international cooperation. The UN played a significant role in the postwar period, and continues to play a major role in international affairs today.
- Cold War: The war also led to the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. This ideological conflict shaped global politics for much of the latter 20th century, and involved arms races, proxy wars, and political competition for influence around the world.
Social
- Population Changes: The war led to significant population changes. For example, there was a decline in population growth rates in many countries due to the high number of casualties. In some countries, such as China and Japan, there was also an increase in population growth due to the postwar baby boom.
- Women in the Workforce: The war led to an increase in the number of women in the workforce, as many men were called to serve in the military. Women took on jobs traditionally held by men, and after the war many of them continued to work outside the home.
- Baby Boom: The postwar years saw a surge in the birth rate in many countries, leading to the demographic phenomenon known as the baby boom. This had significant impacts on population dynamics and social structures.
- Cold War Society: The Cold War also influenced social and cultural developments in many countries. The threat of nuclear war and the ideological competition between the United States and the Soviet Union shaped politics, culture, and daily life to varying degrees in different societies.