YMCA at War - by Jeffrey C Copeland & Yan Xu (Paperback)

About the Book

This collection examines the Young Men's Christian Association's support for soldiers and civilians during World War I and World War II. The contributors approach the topic from various angles and argue that the YMCA's efforts routinely resulted in conflict with governments, o...

Book Synopsis

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is best known for its athletic and youth programs, a heritage that draws on its origins in 1844 to provide wholesome recreation to urban youth away from the moral decay of industrialized urban living. Before long, that uplift mission found a place in the American Civil War, and soon the Y had spread all over the world by the early twentieth century, and in every major war thereafter as well. The YMCA at War: Collaboration and Conflict during the World Wars is the first collection of scholarship to examine the YMCA's efforts during the World Wars of the twentieth century, which proved to be a bastion of support to soldiers and civilians around the world.

The YMCA deployed hundreds of thousands of its much-vaunted secretaries to support suffering civilians and ease soldiers' wartime hardships. Joining forces with governments, other civic organizations, and individuals, the Y could be either an indispensable auxiliary or an arms-length nuisance. In all cases, its support had a significant byproduct: for every person it befriended, the Y invariably made an enemy with an opposing party, its patrons, its sponsor, or at times, all three. The YMCA at War offers fresh, timely research in an international and comparative perspective from scholars around the world that evaluates this conflict and collaboration during the World Wars.

Review Quotes

A diverse and compelling edited volume, The YMCA at War reveals a new social understanding of twentieth century warfare. The Y's global reach and immense influence in wartime make its social-service soldiers an intriguing counterpart to the soldiers on the battlefield.

It is a pleasure to read such a comprehensive and deeply engaging discussion of the YMCA's wartime programs around the globe and their attendant critical discourses. This collection vividly illustrates the complexity and intersectionality of race, ethnicity, gender, and social class confronting the Y secretaries in their highly contested humanitarian endeavors. The YMCA at War is a major gift to scholars, educators, and practitioners who grapple with the challenges of an increasing globalized political economy today.

About the Author

Jeffrey C. Copeland was formerly assistant professor of history at the United States Air Force Academy.

Yan Xu is assistant professor in the Department of History at Spelman College.