#4 Emma Nabi-Bourgois: Ordinary and marginalised people in World War I, the myth of Czech national identity, personal meaning and satisfaction

Talking about the everyday experiences of ordinary people and soldiers in the First World War, the experiences of colonial men and women, and why PTSD was considered a 'syndrome of femininity'. Discussion of the myth and absurdity of Czech national identity and the positives and negatives of nationalism. Emma is doing a PhD in History at the University of Oxford where she is researching Czech national identity. Timestamps: (1:30) Roots of WWI and could it have been avoided? (16:10) Did ordinary people hate other nations before WWI and what motivated them to fight? (29:07) A typical day of a soldier in a trench - fighting, food, entertainment, diseases, relationships (50:35) Shell shock (58:20) Feminist and post-colonial views of WWI - experiences of women and colonial soldiers (1:25:00) The benefits and helpful inventions of WWI (1:33:55) National identities and their positive and negative aspects (1:42:20) Czech national identity and its origins (2:02:08) Emma's personal story, values, life goals