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The Interwar PeriodThe Interwar Period
Socialism in one country?Socialism in one country?
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Balance sheetBalance sheet
Midterm exam, Midterm exam, Tuesday, Feb. 17Tuesday, Feb. 17thth
Part I. Indentify and give the significance of Part I. Indentify and give the significance of five (5)five (5) of the following: 4% each, 20% of the following: 4% each, 20%
Locarno pactsLocarno pacts Treaty of Brest-LitovskTreaty of Brest-Litovsk
Part II. Briefly comment on the validity Part II. Briefly comment on the validity of of four (4)four (4) of the following of the following statements, 10% each, 40%statements, 10% each, 40%
The Russian Revolution was the The Russian Revolution was the inevitable result of changes in class inevitable result of changes in class structure in Tsarist Russia.structure in Tsarist Russia.
Part III. Essay, 1 question out of 2, 40%Part III. Essay, 1 question out of 2, 40%
Studying for the midtermStudying for the midterm
Go over class notes and presentation Go over class notes and presentation outlinesoutlines
Think of questions which might be Think of questions which might be askedasked
Go back through readings, trying to Go back through readings, trying to answer themanswer them
The Interwar Period in ContextThe Interwar Period in Context
An unsettled & uncertain periodAn unsettled & uncertain period Tremendous energy unleashedTremendous energy unleashed
• Modernism in art and architectureModernism in art and architecture• Citizens’ rights extended, regimes Citizens’ rights extended, regimes
democratizeddemocratized• New political forms emerge:New political forms emerge:
Fascism, Nazism, Soviet CommunismFascism, Nazism, Soviet Communism
An age of anxiety?An age of anxiety?
DemocratizationDemocratization
Universal manhood or universal suffrage in Universal manhood or universal suffrage in most countriesmost countries
New political democracies establishedNew political democracies established Extension of public housing, public health,Extension of public housing, public health,
• Some welfare state measuresSome welfare state measures Mass media (radio & film) connect people, Mass media (radio & film) connect people,
provide a new intimacyprovide a new intimacy• Make people listeners or viewers – potential Make people listeners or viewers – potential
observersobservers
Older democraciesOlder democracies
Britain & France stabilize in 1920s despite threats of Britain & France stabilize in 1920s despite threats of revolutionrevolution
UKUK Irish question:Irish question:
• ‘ ‘ resolved’?resolved’?• or put out of mind?or put out of mind?
Integration of the working classIntegration of the working class• Labour comes to power in minority governments (1924-Labour comes to power in minority governments (1924-
26, 1929-1931)26, 1929-1931)• General strike failsGeneral strike fails
France: growing stalemate between right & left France: growing stalemate between right & left
The 1929 crash The 1929 crash October 1929: NY Stock market crashesOctober 1929: NY Stock market crashes Immediate knock-on effectsImmediate knock-on effects
• ‘‘Scramble for liquidity’Scramble for liquidity’• Bankruptcies, bank failuresBankruptcies, bank failures
Creditanstalt (1931) > runs on other banks, firms, Creditanstalt (1931) > runs on other banks, firms, pressures on gov’ts dependent on creditpressures on gov’ts dependent on credit
• Rising unemployment Rising unemployment • Falling demand reinforces downward spiralFalling demand reinforces downward spiral• US responds by raising tariffs, calling loans US responds by raising tariffs, calling loans
Impact spreads rapidly to Europe:Impact spreads rapidly to Europe:• Germany’s ability to pay reparations depends on US Germany’s ability to pay reparations depends on US
loans….loans….• Contraction of world tradeContraction of world trade
1930s1930s Most governments respond byMost governments respond by
• Balancing budgetsBalancing budgets• Instituting import quotas, protective tariffsInstituting import quotas, protective tariffs• Little sense of how to manage business cycle Little sense of how to manage business cycle
or halt the declineor halt the decline Reluctance of most governments to inject Reluctance of most governments to inject
stimulus:stimulus: Exceptions:Exceptions:
• United StatesUnited States• SwedenSweden• Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Democracies v. dictatorshipDemocracies v. dictatorship Support grows for extremist parties, right or leftSupport grows for extremist parties, right or left
• Communists, Fascists, NazisCommunists, Fascists, Nazis France: polarized democracy survives, France: polarized democracy survives,
• with an increasingly strong anti-democratic rightwith an increasingly strong anti-democratic right But problems on southern tier, successor states:But problems on southern tier, successor states:
• PortugalPortugal• Spain: collapse of 2Spain: collapse of 2ndnd Republic Republic• Austria: civil war in 1934…Austria: civil war in 1934…• Hungary Hungary • Poland….Poland….
Liberal democracy in questionLiberal democracy in question• Not clear to everyone that liberal democracy is desirableNot clear to everyone that liberal democracy is desirable• Alternate models available: Alternate models available:
Admiration, flirtation with fascism in intellectual circlesAdmiration, flirtation with fascism in intellectual circles For others, Communism is the solutionFor others, Communism is the solution
Back to the USSRBack to the USSR
Problem: Problem: • what do you do next when you have what do you do next when you have
made an unlikely revolution?made an unlikely revolution? Lenin’s solution: the New Economic Lenin’s solution: the New Economic
Policy (NEP)Policy (NEP) Stalin & StalinismStalin & Stalinism
Marx’s theory of revolutionMarx’s theory of revolution
Revolution as the product of class struggleRevolution as the product of class struggle State is the instrument of the ruling classState is the instrument of the ruling class Revolution will occur at the highest phases Revolution will occur at the highest phases
of capitalism:of capitalism:• Proletariat seizes control of the stateProletariat seizes control of the state• Establishes socialism: state ownership of the Establishes socialism: state ownership of the
means of productionmeans of production• Creates the conditions for communism & the Creates the conditions for communism & the
withering away of the statewithering away of the state
Lenin’s modificationLenin’s modification
Revolution Revolution can take place in a backward country can take place in a backward country
in which the “objective conditions” in which the “objective conditions” are not rightare not right
can be brought about by a small can be brought about by a small conspiratorial organization – a conspiratorial organization – a vanguard partyvanguard party
can serve as a catalyst for revolution can serve as a catalyst for revolution elsewhereelsewhere
Putting theory into practicePutting theory into practice
Bolsheviks seize power in Oct. 1917Bolsheviks seize power in Oct. 1917 Multiple problems:Multiple problems:
• Establishing controlEstablishing control• What to do about the war?What to do about the war?• How to proceed with the revolution?How to proceed with the revolution?
‘‘Solutions’Solutions’
Sue for peaceSue for peace Fight civil warFight civil war Suspend Constituent Assembly, Suspend Constituent Assembly,
elected in 1918elected in 1918 Implement ‘war communism,’ Implement ‘war communism,’
seizing food, material needed for seizing food, material needed for war effortwar effort
Consolidate power in 1920Consolidate power in 1920
The revolutionary projectThe revolutionary project
Problem:Problem: What do you do when revolution What do you do when revolution
elsewhere fails to materialize as elsewhere fails to materialize as expected?expected?
Options:Options: Continue to promote world revolution?Continue to promote world revolution? Build socialism in one country?Build socialism in one country? Consolidate your position?Consolidate your position?
Lenin’s interim solution:Lenin’s interim solution:
New Economic Policy (NEP)New Economic Policy (NEP) Advocated by BukharinAdvocated by Bukharin ““one step backward, two steps forward” one step backward, two steps forward”
• temporary reversion to capitalism to get the temporary reversion to capitalism to get the economy going again (1921-28)economy going again (1921-28)
• Private ownership permittedPrivate ownership permitted Ultimate direction determined by Lenin’s Ultimate direction determined by Lenin’s
impairment (1922), death (1924) and impairment (1922), death (1924) and Stalin’s succession to powerStalin’s succession to power
Stalin’s successionStalin’s succession
StalinStalin• A lesser figure in Bolshevik hierarchyA lesser figure in Bolshevik hierarchy• However, as general secretary of the Communist However, as general secretary of the Communist
Party, well placedParty, well placed• Uses control of the administrative apparatus to Uses control of the administrative apparatus to
advance supportersadvance supporters 1925: Moves against left (Trotsky, 1925: Moves against left (Trotsky,
Kamenev, Zinoviev) in defense of NEPKamenev, Zinoviev) in defense of NEP 1927-28: Moves against Bukharin & 1927-28: Moves against Bukharin &
moderates, promoting ‘Socialism in one moderates, promoting ‘Socialism in one country’country’
Stalin’s policiesStalin’s policies Use of party & state apparatus, terror,Use of party & state apparatus, terror,
• to industrialize USSRto industrialize USSR• plan the economy – via five year plansplan the economy – via five year plans• lay the conditions for socialism and lay the conditions for socialism and
communismcommunism JustificationJustification
• bourgeoisie in Russia had failed to industrialize bourgeoisie in Russia had failed to industrialize the country and establish the conditions for the country and establish the conditions for socialismsocialism
• therefore the party & state must do it insteadtherefore the party & state must do it instead Process required “forced saving” from peasantryProcess required “forced saving” from peasantry
• attacks on attacks on kulakskulaks
Leninism v. StalinismLeninism v. Stalinism
Democratic centralismDemocratic centralism (Lenin) (Lenin) presumes that party has a voice presumes that party has a voice • Discussion permitted until decision madeDiscussion permitted until decision made• Then everyone adheresThen everyone adheres
Under Stalin, party persists, but Under Stalin, party persists, but increasingly under attackincreasingly under attack• Purges, show trials, used to eliminate Purges, show trials, used to eliminate
potential rivals, including Bukharin, other potential rivals, including Bukharin, other members of Lenin’s members of Lenin’s politboropolitboro
• Stalinism: more centralism rather than Stalinism: more centralism rather than democratic centralismdemocratic centralism
ConsequencesConsequences
Agriculture collectivized, opponents Agriculture collectivized, opponents liquidatedliquidated
Russia industrialized, but at Russia industrialized, but at tremendous human costtremendous human cost
Decline in individual consumptionDecline in individual consumption USSR substantially isolated from USSR substantially isolated from
other countriesother countries• Until mid-1930s, beacon for someUntil mid-1930s, beacon for some• Afterward, “The god that failed” Afterward, “The god that failed”
Soviet Communism & Nazism Soviet Communism & Nazism compared:compared:
Totalitarian or nearly totalitarianTotalitarian or nearly totalitarian Each, by extension of party & state, reduces Each, by extension of party & state, reduces
private spaceprivate space Elevation of leadersElevation of leaders Use of propagandaUse of propaganda
• Marginalization & demonization of selected groups:Marginalization & demonization of selected groups: Jews, Slavs, GypsiesJews, Slavs, Gypsies Kulaks, capitalistsKulaks, capitalists
Recourse to terror, anomic violenceRecourse to terror, anomic violence• Moscow trials, purgesMoscow trials, purges• KristallnachtKristallnacht• SA & SS activitiesSA & SS activities
Balance sheetBalance sheet
Liberal democracy survives in Liberal democracy survives in • Britain Britain • France (until 1940)France (until 1940)• Low CountriesLow Countries• Scandinavia (including Finland)Scandinavia (including Finland)• Czechoslovakia (until 1938)Czechoslovakia (until 1938)
Under siege in Spain (Civil War 1936-1939)Under siege in Spain (Civil War 1936-1939) By mid 1930s, a world not very safe for By mid 1930s, a world not very safe for
democracydemocracy
Midterm exam, Midterm exam, Tuesday, Feb. 17Tuesday, Feb. 17thth
Part I. Indentify and give the significance of Part I. Indentify and give the significance of five (5)five (5) of the following: 4% each, 20% of the following: 4% each, 20%
Locarno pactsLocarno pacts Treaty of Brest-LitovskTreaty of Brest-Litovsk
Part II. Briefly comment on the validity Part II. Briefly comment on the validity of of four (4)four (4) of the following of the following statements, 10% each, 40%statements, 10% each, 40%
The Russian Revolution was the The Russian Revolution was the inevitable result of changes in class inevitable result of changes in class structure in Tsarist Russia.structure in Tsarist Russia.
Part III. Essay, 1 question out of 2, 40%Part III. Essay, 1 question out of 2, 40%