Was the Cold War rivalry the single most destructive force of the 20th century?

[Gravitycollapse]

I wonder because of all the proxy conflicts that ensued and how many countries were ravaged from war specifically or indirectly because of the constructed duality of the arms build up, nuclear proliferation or issues related to the supposed "domino effect."

[bluedigger]

1. Well, you could argue that it also gave us Velcro.

And Tang.

Maybe that's a bad example.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. The rise of Communism in China was pretty destructive

A total of over 40 million Chinese are believed to have perished in the Revolution, Great Leap Forward, and Cultural Revolution combined. So if by "destruction", you are talking about "lives lost", it would be hard to top China's cake. But World War II did just that, with 66,000,000 deaths attributed to that conflict, which occurred before the official start of the Cold War, when the US and USSR were actually fighting as allies. And Stalin is believed to have liquidated 20 million of his fellow Russians/Soviets.

And that's not to mention World War I, which saw approximately 15,000,000 deaths, and the Russian Revolution, which resulted in approximately 9,000,000 deaths. Neither of which can be attributed to the Cold War.

http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm

[Downwinder]

3. I would say the rise of Capitalism in

particularly the Chicago School will turn out to be the most destructive force.

[gordianot]

4. Two World Wars, entire generation decimated the cold war was icing on the cake.

Read a fascinating book/study on the subject. "Twentieth Century Book of the Dead"

[pinto]

5. Good question. Yet, I'd place WWI, the Depression, WWII as top three.

Along with all the global impacts all had.

[subterranean]

6. The flu epidemic of 1918 is up there.

Going strictly by death toll (an estimated 50 million people worldwide), it was one of the most destructive events of the century, exceeded only by WWII.

[Adsos Letter]

7. I'd say WWI.

It pretty much paved the way for a lot that followed: the rise of Hitler, Soviet Communism, the wars resulting from the breakdown of colonial control by the Europeans, the Cold War etc.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

8. Ever heard of the second world war? N.T.