At the small scale, things like currying and functions-as-parameters cut down the need for module dependencies. At a larger scale, things like Standard ML functors are very useful for this purpose. Racket has a system called units that does a good job on this too.
Some time ago I've read a post describing how dependency injection can be seen as currying in functional programming. I think it's very interesting, and it gives a good perspective on the topic.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.