A view of world history in 13 parts by John Roberts. 12: The Decline of the West In the first half of this century, a stable world of optimism, sanity and progress seemed to go mad. Men lost faith in the civilisation of the West.
Its old heartland - Europe - was wracked by civil wars (1914-18,1939-45) and leadership passed to America.
Russia became separated from it and hostile. Economic failure, the rolling up of colonial empires, fragmentation in the arts and new discoveries in science and in the new science of the mind - psychology - all added to the unease. And in the East, Japan - first militarily, then economically - became a superpower.
But is the day of the West really done?
Film editor STEPHEN EVANS Executive producer CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
0 BOOK: John Roberts 's book, published in association with his televisionseries,isavailablefrom booksellers price £14.95