Zachary Shore | America’s Ethics in WWII and Policy choices

In this episode, Henry Thomson speaks with Zachary Shore, Professor of History at the Naval Postgraduate School and Senior Fellow at the Institute of European Studies, University of California, Berkeley. Zachary Shore is also author of “This is Not Who We Are: America’s Struggle Between VENGEANCE and VIRTUE,” a novel that provides understanding on some of the moral divides American citizens faced during World War II. Inspired by modern events, Shore wanted to explore times, like World War II, when Americans were saying, “This is not who we are.”

Shore examines the United States’ critical ethical decisions during and after World War II. Key issues include the internment of Japanese Americans, nuclear attacks on civilians, and punitive policies towards Germans under U.S. occupation. He also speaks about how America utilized their power during such a polarizing time and how they came to their decisions. 

Despite the majority of Americans often favoring mercy, a minority pushed harsh policies, revealing discrepancies between public opinion and government influence.