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?

Experimentation in Art & DesignExperimentation in Art & Design

De Stijl & BauhausDe Stijl & Bauhaus

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%